Trends in alcohol, MDMA, methylamphetamine and THC in injured and deceased motor vehicle drivers and motorcyclists over a decade (2010-2019) in Victoria, Australia.
Jennifer L. Schumann, Matthew Di Rago, Noel Woodford, Linda Glowacki, John Fitzpatrick, Michael Kelly, Ben Beck, Olaf H Drummer, Dimitri Gerostamoulos, Joanna F Dipnall
Injury prevention : journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention January 21, 2025 DOI: 10.1136/ip-2024-045342 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 21,439 |
| Population | Injured and fatally injured drivers in road crashes in Victoria, Australia |
| Duration | 2010 to 2019 |
| Topics | Cannabis MDMA |
| Keywords | Driver Drugs Road safety Substance abuse alcohol Methamphetamine Intoxication Traffic accidents crashes Collisions Road incidents Dui Drugged driving Motorcycle fatalities |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Methylamphetamine had the highest prevalence among fatally and injured drivers from 2010 to 2019, with an increasing trend, while alcohol detections in fatalities declined. |
Abstract
Driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs contributes significantly to road traffic crashes worldwide. This study explored trends of alcohol, methylamphetamine (MA), 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), in road crashes from 2010 to 2019 in Victoria, Australia. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and Victoria Police, examining proscribed drug detections in road crashes. Time series graphs per substance explored indicative trends and comparisons between road users. Negative binomial regression models, with robust SEs and adjusted for exposure (kilometres travelled, Victorian licence holders), modelled the incidence rate ratio, with a Bonferroni-adjusted α=0.007 for multiple comparisons. There were 19 843 injured drivers and 1596 fatally injured drivers. MA had the highest prevalence (12.3% of fatalities and 9.1% of injured drivers), demonstrating an increase over time. Overall, 16.8% of car drivers and motorcyclists tested positive for one or more drugs, with 14% of crashes involving a blood alcohol concentration (BAC)≥0.05%. MA and THC were the most common drugs in fatalities. Between 2015 and 2019, MA was detected in 27.9% of motorcyclist fatalities, followed by THC (18.3%) and alcohol ≥0.05% (14.2%), with similar but lower frequencies among injured motorcyclists. Alcohol detections (≥0.05% BAC) in fatalities declined, but increased in injured motorcyclists and car drivers until plateauing in 2017. THC detections rose among injured drivers until 2018, detected in 8.1% and 15.2% of injured and fatal drivers, respectively. MDMA-positive driving decreased among injured drivers and remained stable at ~1% of fatalities. Despite enhanced road safety measures in Victoria, drug-driving persists, indicating a need for revised prevention strategies targeting this growing issue.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on cannabis, most cited first.
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|---|---|---|---|
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| Persisting Reductions in Cannabis, Opioid, and Stimulant Misuse After Naturalistic Psychedelic Use: An Online Survey Online survey respondents | 2020 | Cross-sectional survey | |
| User perceptions of the benefits and harms of hallucinogenic drug use: A web-based questionnaire study Users of hallucinogenic drugs who completed a web-based questionnaire | 2010 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 600 |
| Illicit Use of LSD or Psilocybin, but not MDMA or Nonpsychedelic Drugs, is Associated with Mystical Experiences in a Dose-Dependent Manner Adults recruited from the MAPS website and newsletter, most reporting use of various... | 2012 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 337 |