Heraclito Barbosa de Carvalho1, Gabriel Andreuccetti2, Marcelo Rosa Rezende3, Celso Bernini4, Jorge Santos Silva5, Vilma Leyton6, Julia Maria D'Andréa Greve7. 1. Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil. Electronic address: heracc@usp.br. 2. Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil. Electronic address: gabriel.bio@usp.br. 3. Department of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo 05403-010, Brazil. Electronic address: marcelo@marcelorosaderezende.com.br. 4. Department of Surgery, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil. Electronic address: cobernini@gmail.com. 5. Department of Surgery, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil. Electronic address: jorge.ssilva@hc.fm.usp.br. 6. Department of Legal Medicine, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil. Electronic address: vileyton@usp.br. 7. Department of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo 05403-010, Brazil. Electronic address: jgreve@usp.br.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Earlier studies have already identified that a greater proportion of injured drivers are under the effects of illicit drugs than alcohol in Brazil, but the crash risk attributable to each substance is still unknown. METHODS: Injured motorcycle drivers who were involved in traffic accidents in the West Zone of the city of Sao Paulo were recruited for a cross-sectional study based on crash culpability analysis. Alcohol and drug positivity among drivers was evaluated according to their responsibility for the crash. Culpability ratios were generated based on the proportion of drivers who were deemed culpable in relation to those considered not culpable according to the use of drugs and alcohol. RESULTS: Of the 273 drivers recruited, 10.6% tested positive for alcohol. Among those who were also tested for drugs (n=232), 20.3% had consumed either alcohol and/or other drugs, 15.5% of whom were positive only for drugs other than alcohol, specifically cannabis and cocaine. Drivers who tested positive for alcohol were significantly less likely to possess a valid driver's license and to report driving professionally, whereas those who had consumed only drugs were more likely to drive professionally. The culpability ratio estimated for alcohol-positive drivers was three times higher than that for alcohol-free drivers, showing a superior ratio than drivers who had consumed only drugs other than alcohol, who presented a 1.7 times higher culpability ratio than drug-free drivers. CONCLUSION: Substance use was overrepresented among culpable motorcycle drivers, with alcohol showing a greater contribution to crash culpability than other drugs.
BACKGROUND: Earlier studies have already identified that a greater proportion of injured drivers are under the effects of illicit drugs than alcohol in Brazil, but the crash risk attributable to each substance is still unknown. METHODS: Injured motorcycle drivers who were involved in traffic accidents in the West Zone of the city of Sao Paulo were recruited for a cross-sectional study based on crash culpability analysis. Alcohol and drug positivity among drivers was evaluated according to their responsibility for the crash. Culpability ratios were generated based on the proportion of drivers who were deemed culpable in relation to those considered not culpable according to the use of drugs and alcohol. RESULTS: Of the 273 drivers recruited, 10.6% tested positive for alcohol. Among those who were also tested for drugs (n=232), 20.3% had consumed either alcohol and/or other drugs, 15.5% of whom were positive only for drugs other than alcohol, specifically cannabis and cocaine. Drivers who tested positive for alcohol were significantly less likely to possess a valid driver's license and to report driving professionally, whereas those who had consumed only drugs were more likely to drive professionally. The culpability ratio estimated for alcohol-positive drivers was three times higher than that for alcohol-free drivers, showing a superior ratio than drivers who had consumed only drugs other than alcohol, who presented a 1.7 times higher culpability ratio than drug-free drivers. CONCLUSION: Substance use was overrepresented among culpable motorcycle drivers, with alcohol showing a greater contribution to crash culpability than other drugs.
Authors: Marcelo R De Rezende; Bruno A Veronesi; Renata G Paulos; Alvaro B Cho; Samuel Ribak; Rames M Junior Journal: Int Orthop Date: 2020-11-18 Impact factor: 3.075