First nationwide study on driving under the influence of drugs in Switzerland

Senna, Maria-Cristina; Augsburger, Marc; Aebi, Beat; Briellmann, Thomas; Donzé, Nicolas; Dubugnon, Jean-Luc; Iten, Peter X.; Staub, Christian; Sturm, Walter; Sutter, K.

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.02.014

Cited by 77 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…In Sweden, cannabis was found in only 18-30% of blood samples from drug driving suspects, with 15% of these samples showing cannabis alone [24]. In Switzerland, cocaine was found in as many as 25% of drink or drug drivers [25]. Cocaine was found in only 1% of drug drivers in our study.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 61%

Police custody following driving under the influence of cannabis: A prospective study

Mahindhoratep

Lepresle

Chiadmi

et al. 2013

Forensic Science International

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 61%

Police custody following driving under the influence of cannabis: A prospective study

Mahindhoratep

Lepresle

Chiadmi

et al. 2013

Forensic Science International

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“…The proportion of cases below 3 μg/L was insignificant (less than 1.5%). [2,25] Furthermore, the time interval between the traffic event and the blood sampling was unexpectedly short, with a mean value of 1.5 h (M. Augsburger, pers. comm.).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The first nationwide study on driving while under the influence of drugs in Switzerland confirmed that the most frequently encountered drugs in whole blood (WB) were cannabinoids (48% of total number of cases). [2] Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), together with its inactive metabolite 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THCCOOH), was frequently detected in the blood of impaired drivers arrested for careless driving or involved in road accidents. [3,4] Accurate measurement and interpretation of cannabinoid concentrations can contribute to the reconstruction of the accident scene, determining the time lapse between the last cannabis use and the accident and the assessment of driving impairment level.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

THCCOOH concentrations in whole blood: Are they useful in discriminating occasional from heavy smokers?

Fabritius

Favrat

Chtioui

et al. 2013

Drug Testing and Analysis

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Some forensic and clinical circumstances require knowledge of the frequency of drug use. Care of the patient, administrative, and legal consequences will be different if the subject is a regular or an occasional cannabis smoker. To this end, 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH) has been proposed as a criterion to help to distinguish between these two groups of users. However, to date this indicator has not been adequately assessed under experimental conditions. We carried out a controlled administration study of smoked cannabis with a placebo. Cannabinoid levels were determined in whole blood using tandem mass spectrometry. Significantly high differences in THCCOOH concentrations were found between the two groups when measured during the screening visit, prior to the smoking session, and throughout the day of the experiment. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were determined and two threshold criteria were proposed in order to distinguish between these groups: a free THCCOOH concentration below 3 µg/L suggested an occasional consumption (≤ 1 joint/week) while a concentration higher than 40 µg/L corresponded to a heavy use (≥ 10 joints/month). These thresholds were tested and found to be consistent with previously published experimental data. The decision threshold of 40 µg/L could be a cut-off for possible disqualification for driving while under the influence of cannabis. A further medical assessment and follow-up would be necessary for the reissuing of a driving license once abstinence from cannabis has been demonstrated. A THCCOOH level below 3 µg/L would indicate that no medical assessment is required.

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“…It belongs to the most prevalent drugs involved in forensic and driving under the influence cases [23][24][25][26][27]. MDMA is used for its entactogenic effects and stimulation of the central nervous system [28] which are mainly attributed to the S-MDMA enantiomer [29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of drug incorporation into hair segments and nails by enantiomeric analysis following controlled single MDMA intakes

et al. 2015

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Incorporation rates of the enantiomers of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and its metabolite 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) into hair and nails were investigated after controlled administration. Fifteen subjects without MDMA use received two doses of 125 mg of MDMA. Hair, nail scrapings and nail clippings were collected 9-77 days after the last administration (median: 20 days).Hair samples were analyzed in segments of 1-to 2-cm length. After chiral derivatization with N-(2,4-dinitro-5-fluorophenyl)-L-valinamide, MDMA and MDA diastereomers were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.Highest concentrations in hair segments corresponded to the time of MDMA intake.

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First nationwide study on driving under the influence of drugs in Switzerland

Cited by 77 publications

References 38 publications

Police custody following driving under the influence of cannabis: A prospective study

Police custody following driving under the influence of cannabis: A prospective study

THCCOOH concentrations in whole blood: Are they useful in discriminating occasional from heavy smokers?

Evaluation of drug incorporation into hair segments and nails by enantiomeric analysis following controlled single MDMA intakes

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