Crash characteristics and injuries of victims impaired by alcohol versus illicit drugs

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Study examines blood samples from 894 patients presenting to two Emergency Departments for treatment of motor vehicle injuries sustained in passenger cars, station wagons, vans and pick-ups. Blood samples were tested for alcohol and other drugs and these results were related to demographic characteristics, including prior history of alcohol and drug use, crash characteristics, and injury characteristics. Alcohol was associated with more severe crashes, but other drugs, in the absence of alcohol, were not. Crashes involving drugs but no alcohol were very similar to those involving neither alcohol nor drugs. This document is included in NCDDR's Guide to Substance Abuse and Disability Resources produced by NIDRR Grantees, number D.19.

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