[Recent alcohol and drug consumption in victims of work related accidents]

Twenty to twenty two percent of work related accidents have a direct or indirect relationship with recent alcohol use.

To detect recent alcohol or drug use in patients who required hospitalization for severe work related accidents.

Blood and urine samples were obtained from patients admitted to a hospital within 6 hours of an accident severe enough to require hospitalization. Blood alcohol and urinary metabolites of cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines and benzodiazepines were measured. Patient identity was kept confidential throughout the study. Once patients were stabilized, they were interviewed by a psychologist that was blind to laboratory results.

Two hundred thirty men and 18 women were studied and 29% (30% of men and 17% of women) had recent use of alcohol or drugs. The most common substances were alcohol in 15% and benzodiazepines in 13%. Use of alcohol or drugs was found in 21% of professionals, in 33% of other occupational levels, half of agricultural workers and 25% of commerce workers. Only two of 60 positive cases, admitted substance use during the interview. Most of negative cases admitted the use of alcohol or other drugs during the month prior to the accident.

Recent use of alcohol and drugs is frequent among severe work related accident victims. Probably, a high proportion of these subjects are problem drinkers. The combination of alcohol and benzodiazepines is an additional risk factor.