Alcohol and Other Psychoactive Substances in Road Traffic - a Case-control Study

The main purpose of the study is to determine the accident risk when driving under the influence of psychoactive substances, including alcohol (DUI). Other aims are to find out the prevalence of psychoactive substances in road traffic and to obtain information on the role of these substances in road traffic accident causations. For the purposes of the study, drivers of motorised vehicles are randomly stopped and interviewed and breath alcohol is recorded. Also, an oral fluid sample is taken and psychoactive substances are investigated in the laboratory. For cases, drivers injured in traffic accidents are asked to participate to the study. A whole blood sample and, if possible, an oral fluid sample is taken and psychoactive substances are determined in the laboratory. Also, people diseased in road traffic accident are included in the study. The information required for these subjects are taken from a register database. The study is part of an EU-project DRUID. Altogether 13 European countries take part to the study.