Occurrence of barbiturate, benzodiazepine, meprobamate, methaqualone and phenothiazine in car occupants killed in traffic accidents in the south of Sweden.

An investigation of the following psychoactive drugs: barbiturate, benzodiazepine, meprobamate, methaqualone and phenothiazine, was performed on all automobile occupants killed in accidents in southern Sweden during 1977 and 1978. Of 122 drivers and 55 passengers analysed, low concentrations of these drugs were found in nine drivers and in five passengers. Thus, 7.3% of the drivers were driving under the influence of drugs and, of these, two drivers (1.6% of all analysed drivers) were also inebriated. Twenty-three per cent of the drivers were inebriated only. According to the circumstances in the accidents and the number of drivers whose analyses proved positive, drug influence seldom seems to be the cause of fatal traffic accidents.