Drugs and Traffic Safety Traffic Safety, Illicit and Medicinals Drugs French Situation and Propositions

Following some former epidemiological studies led in the general population, consumption of psycho active medicinal drugs concerned 18% o f adults, females for the most part o f them (70% ), with a high relative age (55,5 years); 45% o f them had used those drugs during the year before the study and 25% used them since more than 10 years ( Haeusler 1988). In teenagers, 8% were multiple users and 59% had already used illicit drugs, 37% desire for them and 32% used illicit psychotropic drugs. The studies led in care centers for drug addicts shown that heroine was the most common but also that alcohol and licit psychotropic drugs were used by a third o f patients ( Facy 1994). A study led in emergency units shown, that among patients using psychotropic drugs ( licit or not), 15% came for an accident . For daily use, benzodiazepines (BZD) were the most common (39%) ahead o f heroine (28%) and alcohol (54%). For casual and daily use, BZD the first drugs (75% ), ahead of alcohol (54%), heroine (44%) and cannabis (33%) (Facy 1993). Epidemiological studies in drivers have also been led. A m ulticenter study led in 3147 drivers involved in car accidents included a detection o f BZD in the blood ( immunoenzymatic). This study included a control group o f drivers involved in car accidents but estimated as non responsible by the police, leaving aside an eventual liability related to alcohol ( Lagier 1990, BZD Driving Collaborative Group, 1993). This study confirmed the notable average o f drivers (8%) positive for BZD, average slightly lower than in a previous study ( Girre 1988) however, this study did not show a difference (upon a base o f relative risk o f 2), between the group of responsible and not responsible drivers. But it shown the role, in accidents, o f the association o f alcohol an BZD. Moreover, a team involved in this study has led a more complete detection o f