NCJ Number
111720
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 33 Issue: 3 Dated: (May 1988) Pages: 648-661
Date Published
1988
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Blood or urine samples or both were obtained from 317 of 359 randomly selected tractor-trailer drivers asked to participate in a driver health survey conducted at a truck weighing station on Interstate 40 in Tennessee.
Abstract
Altogether, 29 percent of the drivers had evidence of alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, prescription or nonprescription stimulants, or a combination of these, in either blood or urine. Cannabinoids were found in 15 percent of the drivers' blood or urine, nonprescription stimulants such as phenylpropanolamine were found in 12 percent, prescription stimulants such as amphetamine were found in 5 percent, cocaine metabolites were found in 2 percent, and alcohol was found in less than 1 percent. These results provide the first objective information about the use of potentially abusive drugs by tractor-trailer drivers. The extent of driver impairment attributable to the observed drugs is uncertain because of the complex relationship between performance and drug concentration. (Author abstract)