Drug consumption of suspected drug-influenced drivers in Hungary (2016–2018)

• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111325
• Publication Date: 2022-05-06T11:40:10Z
• Authors: László Institóris; Előd Hidvégi; Katalin Kovács; Ákos Jámbor; Adrienn Dobos; Ferenc Rárosi; Gábor Süvegh; Tibor Varga; Éva M. Kereszty
• Keywords: MDMA; Synthetic cannabinoids; Stimulant; Alprazolam; Methamphetamine; Forensic Toxicology; Designer drug; Clonazepam; Ecstasy

The hazard caused by driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) is determined time consumption, dose and biological effects a substance, as well synergistic drug interactions after multi-drug use. aim this work was to investigate prevalence pattern psychoactive substance use suspected DUID drivers present advantages disadvantages system currently used for determination impairment in Hungary. Blood urine samples, collected between 2016 2018, were taken from 2369 with positivity rate 95% at least one substance. Classical illicit detected 76-87%, prescription medications 9-15%, stimulant New Psychoactive Substances (sNPS) 3-8%, synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) 20-22% positive samples. most frequent substances according groups were: classical drugs: cannabis (n = 1240), amphetamine methamphetamine (AM/MA) 753), MDMA 196), cocaine 180), medicines: alprazolam 188) clonazepam 83), sNPS: N-ethyl-hexedrone 115), SCs: 5 F-MDMB-PINACA 267), AMB-FUBINACA 92) ADB-FUBINACA 90). median age users 29 years, medicine 33 years old, sNPS 28 SC 26 old. Compared previous two we found pronounced changes ratio (14% decrease) (10% increase), NPS consumption. varied 38% 50%. 69% tested deemed impaired. Impairment limits (80-82%), (12-13%), result medical investigation when single active no set limit blood (6-8%). results investigations may be uncertain due long delay arrest clinical examination structure created alcoholic impairment. In conclusion, revision current protocol warranted standardize symptom scores that better correlate