Illegal drug taking and driving: patterns of drug taking among Spanish drivers.

This study investigated patterns of illegal drug taking among Spanish drivers. The study was conducted in the fall of 1993 on 1500 drivers aged over 16, who properly completed and returned the questionnaires. The statistical SAS package was used. Among those surveyed, 23.5% had taken illegal drugs within their lifetime, 6.1% in the past year, 4.2% in the past month and 3.1% in the past week. Cannabis was the drug most frequently taking drug within lifetime (17.3%), the past year (3.4%), the past month (2.7%) or the past week (2.1%). Of those surveyed, 3% had driven after taking illegal drugs in the last year before the survey, and had been stopped during road checks (P < 0.001) and involved in road accidents (P < 0.0001) more often than those who had not driven under the influence of drugs. The study shows that driving under the influence of illegal drugs is somewhat frequent in Spain.

Drugs and alcohol consumption amongst Spanish drivers.

We have analysed patterns of alcohol and regular drug consumption by Spanish drivers. Six hundred and seventy five properly completed questionnaires were received from drivers attending three medical traffic centres in Valladolid (Spain) for medical examination prior to obtaining or renewing their driving licence in 1990. Among those surveyed, 24% were 'daily' drinkers and 56.7% were 'weekly' drinkers, the majority (55.5%) being 'light' drinkers (1-39 g/day of pure alcohol). Of those surveyed 28.9% took drugs. The most commonly consumed drugs were analgesics (6.5%), anti-allergic drugs (5.2%) and oral contraceptives (4.6%). Of those drivers taking drugs 28.2% were 'daily' drinkers and 53.8% were 'weekly' drinkers. The study indicates widespread consumption of alcohol and drugs by Spanish drivers.

Prevalence of psychoactive substances, alcohol, illicit drugs, and medicines, in Spanish drivers: a roadside study.

Following population, geographic, road type and time criteria, Spain has carried out random, roadside controls of 3302 representative sample of Spanish drivers, including saliva analysis for 24 psychoactive substances and alcohol breath tests. The 81.4% of the drivers were male, with an average age of 34.8±11.8 (mean±SD). The 17% of the drivers were found to be positive to any of the substances analysed. The 6.6% of the drivers found positive to alcohol (>0.05 mg/l in breath), 11% were found positive to any illicit drug, and 2% were positive to one of the medicines analysed. Some drivers were positive in more than one substance. The most common illicit drugs among Spanish drivers were cannabis (7.7%), or cocaine (3.5%), either alone or combined with other substances. The most prevalent medicines were the benzodiazepines (1.6%). As a tendency, higher figures for positive cases were observed among males than in females (being statistically significant the differences for alcohol, cannabis and cocaine). Alcohol and cocaine positive cases were more frequently found among drivers of urban roads. Alcohol positive cases (alone, >0.05 mg/l), were more likely found as age increase (OR=1.02), those driving in urban roads (OR=2.13), and driving at any period than weekdays, while alcohol+drugs cases were more likely found among males (OR=2.819), those driving on urban road (OR=2.17) and driving at night periods. Finding a medicines positive case was more likely as elder the driver was (OR=1.05). There have been differences in the prevalence of positive cases of alcohol, cannabis and cocaine, in relation to the period of the week: in three cases the highest prevalence seen in night time. This study shows the high prevalence of psychoactive substances and alcohol in Spanish drivers, mainly illicit drugs (cannabis). This question requires a response from the authorities and from society, with an integral and multi-disciplinary approach that can heighten the population's awareness of the risks of driving under the influence of certain substances.

Patterns of drug use in Castille and Leon (Spain).

A total of 2500 individuals, aged 14-70 years and living in Castille and Leon (Spain), were surveyed in the spring of 1989 with regard to their drug consumption and patterns of use. 'Lifetime' drug users' rates were 30.0% for cannabis, 5.4% for cocaine, 5.2% for amphetamines, 2.4% for psychedelic drugs, 1.5% for opiates, 1.1% for tranquillizers, and 0.4% for inhalants. 'Regular' drug users were more common among cannabis--2.8% of the surveyed--and less frequent among cocaine, opiates and amphetamine users--0.3% of everyone of the substances mentioned above. 'Lifetime' drug users were more common among males than among females, among singles than among married, in those younger (18-29 years of age) and with work problems. The starting age of drug consumption ranged between the average of 15.6 years of age for those who consumed inhalants and 19.5 for those who consumed cocaine. The results allow a better understanding of the pattern of drug use in Castille and Leon (Spain), as well as the 'high' prevalence of drug use in our region.