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. 2022 Aug 30:46:e116.
doi: 10.26633/RPSP.2022.116. eCollection 2022.

Road traffic injury risk from alcohol and cannabis use among emergency department patients in Argentina

Karina Conde  1 , Raquel Inés Peltzer  1 , Paula Victoria Gimenez  1 , Tomás Salomón  1 , Gabriel Suarez  2 , Maristela Monteiro  3 , Cheryl J Cherpitel  4 , Mariana Cremonte  1
Affiliations

Road traffic injury risk from alcohol and cannabis use among emergency department patients in Argentina

Karina Conde et al. Rev Panam Salud Publica. .

Abstract
in English, Spanish, Portuguese

Objective: To report the risk from alcohol, cannabis, and their combined use for non-fatal road traffic injuries for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

Methods: Risk was estimated using the case-crossover method. Participants (N= 306) were injured patients from an emergency department in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

Results: Alcohol use (OR= 6.78, CI 95% 3.75-12.25) as well as combined alcohol and cannabis use (OR= 7.05, CI 95% 1.16-42.73) significantly increased the risk of a road traffic injuries. Alcohol use increased the risk in both, women (OR= 8.87, CI 95% 2.69-29.21) and men (OR= 6.16, CI 95% 3.10-12.23); in those >30 years old (OR= 6.01, CI 95% 2.09-17.24) and those <30 years old (OR= 7.15, CI 95% 3.49-14.65). This last group also had an increased risk after combined alcohol and cannabis use (OR= 7.05, CI 95% 1.16-42.75). Both drivers (OR= 6.40, CI 95% 3.23-12.69) and passengers (OR= 13.83, CI 95% 2.87-66.42) had an increased risk after alcohol consumption.

Conclusions: To our knowledge, these are the first estimates of the risk of having a road traffic injury after alcohol and cannabis consumption in one of the countries of the Southern Cone (Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay). These results highlight the urgent need to implement and enforce comprehensive alcohol control measures. Furthermore, given the global trend towards legalizing cannabis for recreational use, our results could also inform policymakers to enact or amend impaired driving laws.

Objetivo: Informar sobre el riesgo lesiones por accidentes de tránsito debido al consumo de alcohol, cannabis o su combinación en conductores, pasajeros y peatones.

Métodos: Se estimó el riesgo mediante el método de casos cruzados. Los participantes (N = 306) fueron pacientes que habían sufrido lesiones, provenientes de una sala de urgencias en Mar del Plata (Argentina).

Resultados: El consumo de alcohol (OR = 6,78, IC95% 3,75-12,25), así como el consumo combinado de alcohol y cannabis (OR = 7,05, IC95% 1,16-42,73) aumentaron significativamente el riesgo de traumatismos por accidentes de tránsito. El consumo de alcohol aumentó el riesgo tanto en mujeres (OR = 8,87, IC95% 2,69-29,21) como en hombres (OR = 6,16, IC95% 3,10-12,23); así como en mayores de 30 años (OR = 6,01, IC95% 2,09-17,24) y en menores de 30 años (OR = 7,15, IC95% 3,49-14,65). Este último grupo también tuvo mayor riesgo tras un consumo combinado de alcohol y cannabis (OR = 7,05, IC95% 1,16-42,75). Tanto los conductores (OR = 6,40, IC95% 3,23-12,69) como los pasajeros (OR = 13,83, IC95% 2,87-66,42) presentaron mayor riesgo después del consumo de alcohol.

Conclusiones: Hasta donde sabemos, estas son las primeras estimaciones del riesgo de sufrir lesiones por accidentes de tránsito tras el consumo de alcohol y cannabis en uno de los países del Cono Sur (Argentina, Chile y Uruguay). Estos resultados ponen de relieve la urgente necesidad de aplicar y hacer cumplir medidas integrales de control del alcohol. Además, dada la tendencia mundial hacia la legalización del cannabis para consumo recreativo, nuestros resultados también podrían orientar a los responsables de las políticas para que promulguen o enmienden las leyes sobre la conducción con capacidades alteradas debido al consumo de sustancias.

Objetivo: Relatar o risco de lesões não fatais no trânsito atribuível ao álcool, à cannabis e a seu uso combinado para motoristas, passageiros e pedestres.

Métodos: O risco foi estimado usando o método clínico cruzado (case-crossover). Os participantes (N=306) eram feridos atendidos em um pronto-socorro em Mar del Plata, Argentina.

Resultados: O uso de álcool (OR = 6,78, IC95% 3,75; 12,25) e o uso combinado de álcool e cannabis (OR= 7,05, IC95% 1,16; 42,73) aumentaram significativamente o risco de lesões no trânsito. O uso de álcool aumentou o risco tanto em mulheres (OR = 8,87, IC95% 2,69; 29,21) quanto em homens (OR = 6,16, IC95% 3,10; 12,23); naqueles >30 anos de idade (OR = 6,01, IC95% 2,09; 17,24) e <30 anos de idade (OR = 7,15, IC95% 3,49; 14,65). Esse último grupo também apresentou um risco maior após o uso combinado de álcool e cannabis (OR = 7,05, IC95% 1,16; 42,75). Tanto motoristas (OR = 6,40, IC95% 3,23; 12,69) quanto passageiros (OR = 13,83, IC95% 2,87; 66,42) apresentaram risco maior após o consumo de álcool.

Conclusões: Até onde sabemos, estas são as primeiras estimativas do risco de lesões de trânsito após o consumo de álcool e cannabis em um dos países do Cone Sul (Argentina, Chile e Uruguai). Os resultados destacam a necessidade urgente de implementar e aplicar medidas abrangentes de controle do álcool. Além disso, considerando a tendência global de legalização da cannabis para uso recreativo, nossos resultados também poderiam ajudar os formuladores de políticas a decretar ou alterar as leis sobre a condução sob efeito de substâncias psicoativas.

Keywords: Alcohol drinking; Argentina; accidents, traffic; cannabis; risk.

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Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.. Participant flow diagram, injured patients, Mar del Plata, Argentina, 2020
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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