title: The prevalence of alcohol and psychotropic drugs in fatalities of road-traffic accidents in Jordan during 2008-2014.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several studies confirmed alcohol and psychotropic drug consumption as important risk factors underlying fatal accidents. This paper presents updated toxicological findings in the fatalities of road traffic accidents of Amman district, in order to have an overall picture of the occurrence of these substances in these victims in Jordan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a seven-year period (2008-2014), 2743, autopsies were conducted at Jordan University Hospital in which the sum of n = 311 (11.38%) were victims of road traffic accidents. Blood samples from these victims were collected. Toxicology screening for psychotropic drugs and alcohol was conducted on these samples, and the results were analyzed according to age, sex and victim's status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study revealed that Alcohol and psychotropic drugs were positive in 36.5%, (n = 58) of the cases, and for alcohol alone (n = 13, 37.1%). The majority of the victims were pedestrians (n = 155, 49.8%). Additionally, 29.6% (n = 92) of the cases were of ages 19-29. Detected psychotropic drugs were benzodiazepines, barbiturates. None of the collected specimens were positive for illicit cocaine, amphetamines or cannabis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results from this study proved the existence of alcohol and psychotropic drugs in the victims of road traffic accidents; Indicating an association between the uses of these substances in accident involvement. Though having some limitations, other conclusions require further data collection, cooperation with related parties in Jordan, and utilizing simple extended toxicological screens.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, The University of Jordan, Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan. Electronic address: imadabdallat@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Imad M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Al-Abdallat
authors.affiliation: An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine. Electronic address: rayyanali74@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Rayyan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Al Ali
authors.affiliation: The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. Electronic address: arwahudieb@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Arwa A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hudaib
authors.affiliation: The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. Electronic address: gsalameh97@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ghada A M
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Salameh
authors.affiliation: The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. Electronic address: rakez83@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Rakiz J M
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Salameh
authors.affiliation: The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. Electronic address: ahmedkameldhair@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ahmed K F
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Idhair
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000067401:Blood Alcohol Content; D000066448:Driving Under the Influence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000097:blood*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000067401:Blood Alcohol Content; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: Alcohol; Fatality; Jordan; Psychotropic drugs; RTA