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Testing for benzodiazepine inebriation—relationship between benzodiazepine concentration and simple clinical tests for impairment in a sample of drugged drivers

  • Pharmacodynamics
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Abstract

Objective

To study how the various 25 subtests and observations of the Norwegian clinical test for impairment related to the blood benzodiazepine concentrations of apprehended drivers suspected of driving under the influence of benzodiazepines. The impact of single-dose intake in non-daily users of benzodiazepines on the clinical picture of inebriation was also studied.

Methods

Included in the study were 818 drivers suspected of driving under the influence of non-alcoholic drugs with blood samples containing only one benzodiazepine. We determined which of the 25 subtests and observations of the clinical test for impairment related significantly to the blood benzodiazepine concentrations.

Results

Significantly related to blood benzodiazepine concentrations were 13 subtests and observations. Of these, 9 withstood adjustment for a variety of background variables. Singledose intake in non-daily users only influenced 3 subtests and observations after adjustment for blood benzodiazepine concentration and background variables. Romberg's test, 1 observation concerning alertness (oriented for time and place), 4 tests on motor and coordination (walk and turn on line, finger-to-nose and finger-to-finger tests), 2 observations on speech (articulation and content) and 1 observation regarding appearance (general conduct) were related to blood benzodiazepine concentrations.

Conclusion

Many of these simple clinical tests are included in the standardized field sobriety test and are of value in revealing benzodiazepine impairment. The present study offered some possible additions. Combinations of these robust tests can also be used to reveal benzodiazepine inebriation in other contexts.

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Acknowledgements

No other external financial support for the present work was received. Commercial interest holders have not employed the authors otherwise and no conflicts of interest were present.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Forensic Toxicology and Drug Abuse, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway

    Jørgen G. Bramness & Jørg Mørland

  2. Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway

    Svetlana Skurtveit

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  1. Jørgen G. Bramness
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  2. Svetlana Skurtveit
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  3. Jørg Mørland
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Correspondence to Jørgen G. Bramness.

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Bramness, J.G., Skurtveit, S. & Mørland, J. Testing for benzodiazepine inebriation—relationship between benzodiazepine concentration and simple clinical tests for impairment in a sample of drugged drivers. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 59, 593–601 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-003-0677-0

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