Drug and alcohol concentrations of drivers involved in fatal motor vehicle accidents in british columbia, canada: a one year study

Blood samples of 41 female and 181 male fatally injured drivers were examined. Analyses suggested that drugs other than alcohol are contributing to fatal traffic accidents in British Columbia. Toxicological analysis showed: alcohol alone (37 percent); alcohol and drugs (11 percent); and drugs alone (9 percent). The most frequently encountered drugs were alcohol (48 percent); tetrahydrocannabinol or its metabolite (THC-THCCOOH) (13 percent); benzodiazepines (5 percent); and cocaine (4 percent). Blood samples were screened by EMIT, capillary GC with NP and EC detection and LC with diode array detection. All samples were confirmed by GC-MS and quantified by GC with NP or EC detection, LC with diode array (uv) detection or GC-MS. (a) For the record of the covering entry of this conference, please see IRRD abstract no 868581.