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Psychoactive substance use by truck drivers: a systematic review
Edmarlon Girotto1, Arthur Eumann Mesas, Selma Maffei de Andrade
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine
|October 23, 2013
Summary
Psychoactive substance use is prevalent among truck drivers, with alcohol, amphetamines, marijuana, and cocaine being common. Poor working conditions significantly contribute to this issue.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Addiction Medicine
- Transportation Safety
Background:
- Truck drivers face unique occupational stressors that may influence substance use.
- Understanding the prevalence and associated factors of psychoactive substance use is crucial for driver well-being and road safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the scientific evidence on the prevalence of psychoactive substance use among truck drivers.
- To identify factors associated with psychoactive substance intake in this population.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of four major databases (PubMed, SciELO, LILACS, Cochrane) was conducted.
- 36 cross-sectional studies with quantitative data on truck driver substance use were identified and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Prevalence varied significantly by substance: alcohol (0.1-91.0%), amphetamines (0.2-82.5%), marijuana (0.2-29.9%), and cocaine (0.1-8.3%).
- Self-reported use showed higher prevalence than biological sample testing.
- Factors associated with use included younger age, higher income, long trips, night driving, and poor working conditions.
Conclusions:
- Psychoactive substance use among truck drivers is a significant concern, with considerable variation in prevalence.
- Findings highlight a strong association between substance use and indicators of adverse working conditions in the trucking industry.
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