Use of multiple data sources to identify specific drugs and other factors associated with drug and alcohol screening of fatally injured motor vehicle drivers. (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bunn, T.; Singleton, M.; Chen, I-Chen
• Is Part Of: Accident analysis and prevention. Volume 122(2019)
• Page Start: 287
• Page End: 294
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: Drugs -- Drivers -- Data sources -- Autopsy; Accidents -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Accident Prevention -- Periodicals; Accidents -- Prévention -- Périodiques; 363.106
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2018.10.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0001-4575

Abstract

Highlights: One-quarter of fatally injured drivers had alcohol present at death (28%); 15% had depressants, and 11% each had cannabinoids, and narcotics. Supplementation of FARS data with other data sources increased identification of specific drugs among fatally injured motor vehicle drivers. Lack of seat belts, age, vehicle type, and speeding were associated with increased odds of a fatally injured driver being drug/alcohol screened. Abstract: Objective: Drugged driving crashes have significantly increased over the past two decades. The objectives of this study were to identify and characterize the drugs present in motor vehicle driver fatalities using multiple surveillance data sources; assess concordance of the data sources in identifying drug presence; and identify demographic and crash factors associated with drug and alcohol screening in fatally injured motor vehicle drivers. Methods: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), Collision Report Analysis for Safer Highways (CRASH), and mortality data sets were linked; drug screening and positive drug screens were identified. Chi-square and conditional logistic regression were performed. Results: The use of FARS data identified the majority of positive drug screens in the linked data set. Supplementation of FARS data with death certificate and CRASH data increased identification of specific drugs and drug classes detected among fatally injured motor vehicle drivers, although there was a low concordance among the data sources. Alcohol and depressants such as alprazolam had the highest frequencies among fatally injured drivers. Speeding, lack of occupant restraints, young age, commercial truck drivers, and speeding were all factors associated with increased odds of the fatally injured driver being drug or alcohol screened. Conclusions: These findings indicate that FARS drug information data may be strengthened through increased autopsy and consultation with medical examiners to better understand and interpret decedent toxicology testing results, and that states with low driver drug testing rates should consider mandatory driver drug testing in fatal crashes.