Alcohol and Drug Consumption among Drivers before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Observational Study

European journal of investigation in health psychology and education

article

Maricla Marrone¹  Fortunato Pititto¹  Alessandra Stellacci¹  Simona Nicolì¹  Luigi Buongiorno¹  Benedetta Pia De Luca¹  Lucia Aventaggiato²  Giuseppe Strisciullo²  Biagio Solarino¹  Marcello Benevento¹ 

[1] Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”;Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”

关键词: alcohol;    mental health;    drug;    COVID-19;    lockdown;    driver;    cannabis;    cocaine;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ejihpe13050068

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic might have changed recreational habits. In this study, the results of toxicological tests for alcohol and drugs in blood were compared among drivers stopped at roadside checks in the periods before (1 January 2018 to 8 March 2020) and after the lockdown measures (9 March 2020 to 31 December 2021). A total of 123 (20.7%) subjects had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit for driving of 0.5 g/l, 21 (3.9%) subjects tested positive for cocaine, and 29 (5.4%) subjects positive for cannabis. In the COVID-19 period, the mean blood alcohol level was significantly higher than in the previous period. Cannabis use, which was more frequent among younger subjects, was statistically associated with cocaine use. There has also been a quantitative increase in alcohol levels in the population with values above the legal limits, indicative of greater use of alcohol in the population predisposed to its intake.

【 授权许可】

Unknown