Psychotropic drugs

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The Prevalence of alcohol and Psychotropic drugs in fatalities of road-traffic accidents in Jordan during 2008 – 2014

Journal Title, Volume, Page: 
Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine · January 2016, DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2016.01.018
Year of Publication: 
2016
Authors: 
Imad M. AL-Abdallat
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, The University of Jordan, Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan
Rayyan Al Ali
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestin
Current Affiliation: 
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestin
Arwa A. Hudaib
The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Ghada A.M. Salameh
The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Rakiz J.M. Salameh
The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Ahmed K.F. Idhair
The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Preferred Abstract (Original): 

Objective Several studies confirmed alcohol and psychotropic drug consumption as important risk factors underlying fatal accidents. This paper presents updated toxicological findings in the fatalities of road traffic accidents of Amman district, in order to have an overall picture of the occurrence of these substances in these victims in Jordan. Method Over a seven-year period (2008–2014), 2743, autopsies were conducted at Jordan University Hospital in which the sum of n = 311 (11.38%) were victims of road traffic accidents. Blood samples from these victims were collected. Toxicology screening for psychotropic drugs and alcohol was conducted on these samples, and the results were analyzed according to age, sex and victim's status.
Results This study revealed that Alcohol and psychotropic drugs were positive in 36.5%, (n = 58) of the cases, and for alcohol alone (n = 13, 37.1%). The majority of the victims were pedestrians (n = 155, 49.8%). Additionally, 29.6% (n = 92) of the cases were of ages 19–29. Detected psychotropic drugs were benzodiazepines, barbiturates. None of the collected specimens were positive for illicit cocaine, amphetamines or cannabis.
Conclusions The results from this study proved the existence of alcohol and psychotropic drugs in the victims of road traffic accidents; Indicating an association between the uses of these substances in accident involvement. Though having some limitations, other conclusions require further data collection, cooperation with related parties in Jordan, and utilizing simple extended toxicological screens.  

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