Prevalence of alcohol and drugs among Norwegian motor vehicle drivers: A roadside survey

Gjerde, Hallvard; Normann, Per T.; Pettersen, B; Assum, Terje; Aldrin, Magne; Johansen, Unni; Kristoffersen, Lena; Øiestad, Elisabeth Leere; Christophersen, Asbjørg S.; Mørland, Jörg

doi:10.1016/j.aap.2008.06.015

Cited by 105 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…We examined the distribution of concentrations of amphetamine and THC from that study using the EasyFit software (www.mathwave.com) and found that two two-parameter probability distributions fitted the distributions of concentrations of both drugs in both blood and oral fluid well: the Weibull and Lognormal distributions. We also found that these probability distributions also fitted concentration data for zopiclone, diazepam, THC and codeine in samples of oral fluid from a study of random drivers [17]. We propose that if the oral fluid drug concentration distribution in a population fits a distribution model, a similar, plausible distribution in whole blood may be estimated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Can the prevalence of high blood drug concentrations in a population be estimated by analysing oral fluid? A study of tetrahydrocannabinol and amphetamine

Gjerde

Verstraete

2010

Forensic Science International

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A B S T R A C TAim: To study several methods for estimating the prevalence of high blood concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol and amphetamine in a population of drug users by analysing oral fluid (saliva).Methods: Five methods were compared, including simple calculation procedures dividing the drug concentrations in oral fluid by average or median oral fluid/blood (OF/B) drug concentration ratios or regression coefficients and more complex Monte Carlo simulations.Populations of 311 cannabis users and 197 amphetamine users from the Rosita-2 Project were studied. Results:The results of a feasibility study suggested that the Monte Carlo simulations might give better accuracies than simple calculations if good data on OF/B ratios is available. If using only 20 randomly selected OF/B ratios, a Monte Carlo simulation gave the best accuracy but not the best precision. Dividing by the OF/B regression coefficient gave acceptable accuracy and precision, and was therefore the best method. None of the methods gave acceptable accuracy if the prevalence of high blood drug concentrations was less than 15%. Conclusion:Dividing the drug concentration in oral fluid by the OF/B regression coefficient gave an acceptable estimation of high blood drug concentrations in a population, and may therefore give valuable additional information on possible drug impairment, e.g. in roadside surveys of drugs and driving. If good data on the distribution of OF/B ratios are available, a Monte Carlo simulation may give better accuracy.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Can the prevalence of high blood drug concentrations in a population be estimated by analysing oral fluid? A study of tetrahydrocannabinol and amphetamine

Gjerde

Verstraete

2010

Forensic Science International

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“…The data collection was carried out in cooperation with five National Mobile Police Service (MPS) districts in south-eastern Norway from April 2005 to April 2006 (7). Drivers of motor vehicles were selected using a stratified two-stage cluster sampling procedure.…”

Section: Roadside Surveymentioning

confidence: 99%

Can the use of psychoactive drugs in the general adult population be estimated based on data from a roadside survey of drugs and driving?

Gjerde

Normann²,

Mørland³

2011

Nor J Epidemiol

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A roadside survey of drugs and driving was performed in south-eastern Norway in 2005-6. Samples of saliva from a total of 10,503 drivers above 20 years of age were analysed, and the results were weighted for under-and over-sampling compared to the population distribution in the study area. Weighted results were compared with data on dispensed prescriptions of zopiclone, codeine and diazepam at Norwegian pharmacies in the same area and with self-reported use of cannabis. When using roadside data to estimate drug use, the use of medicinal drugs was under-estimated by 17-59% compared to amounts dispensed. One of the main reasons for the under-estimation may be that a large proportion of the users of psychoactive medicinal drugs are not frequent drivers. For cannabis, self-reported data corresponded approximately to the estimated prevalence range. The results indicate that roadside surveys cannot be used for accurate estimations of drug use in the population, but may provide minimum figures.

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“…The prevalence rate was, however, lower than in the workplace study by Gjerde and colleagues (10), but the results were not directly comparable as the prevalence was surveyed by self-report in addition to oral fluid, and covered intake during the last 24 or 48 hours. Another Norwegian study of use of alcohol, psychoactive medicinal drugs and illicit drugs in a representative selection of drivers in Norwegian road traffic showed that alcohol and drugs were detected in 5.7% of the drivers (16). Medicinal drugs were found in 4.5% and illicit drugs in 1.1% of the samples.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Results of workplace drug testing in Norway

Lund¹,

Bogstrand²,

Christophersen³

2011

Nor J Epidemiol

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Workplace drug testing is less common in Norway than in many other countries. During the period from 2000-2006, 13469 urine or blood samples from employees in the offshore industry, shipping companies and aviation industry were submitted to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health for drug testing. The samples were analysed for benzodiazepines, illicit drugs, muscle relaxants with sedating properties, opioids and z-hypnotics. In total, 2.9% of the samples were positive for one or more substances. During the study period the prevalence decreased for morphine (from 1.9% to 1.1%) and increased for amphetamine (from 0.04% to 0.6%), clonazepam (from 0% to 0.1%), methamphetamine (from 0.04% to 0.6%), nitrazepam (from 0% to 0.4%) and oxazepam (from 0.5% to 1.3%) (p<0.05). There was no significant change in prevalence for the other substances included in the analytical programme. Illicit drugs were significantly associated with lower age (OR: 0.93, p<0.05). This study found low prevalence of drugs among employees in companies with workplace drug testing programmes in Norway.

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Prevalence of alcohol and drugs among Norwegian motor vehicle drivers: A roadside survey

Cited by 105 publications

References 15 publications

Can the prevalence of high blood drug concentrations in a population be estimated by analysing oral fluid? A study of tetrahydrocannabinol and amphetamine

Can the prevalence of high blood drug concentrations in a population be estimated by analysing oral fluid? A study of tetrahydrocannabinol and amphetamine

Can the use of psychoactive drugs in the general adult population be estimated based on data from a roadside survey of drugs and driving?

Results of workplace drug testing in Norway

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