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There was a 34% increase in the number of tests that confirmed the presence of drugs in motorists last year under preliminary tests, according to the Medical Office of Highway Safety.
According to the latest annual report from the Bureau, of the 3,230 blood and urine samples tested for drugs, 2,375 (74% of toxicology samples and 49% of all samples received) tested positive for at least one class of drug in preliminary testing, leading to a 34% overall increase in confirmatory drug testing.
The SAM said that polydrug use was found “commonly” among the samples it analyzed in 2019, and that in 45% of positive cases two or more drugs were detected.
The SAM annual report for 2019 showed that the number of blood and urine samples it received for alcohol testing (4,854) increased by 25% over 2018 and for drug toxicology testing increased by 50%.
Alcohol was the drug most likely to be detected in the samples that were submitted for analysis at the Office, followed by cannabis and cocaine.
According to the annual report, referring to the blood or urine samples analyzed for driving under the influence of alcohol: “During 2019 1,521 copies were certified that exceeded two or more times these [legal] limits. This figure represents 32% of the total number of certified specimens “.
Regarding breath samples to detect possible drunk driving, the report said: “Of a total of 5,372 completed breath samples, 45% of these were more than twice [legal] limit.”
In 2019, a total of 5,372 drivers were brought to Garda stations and provided breath samples for alcohol analysis and according to the report, “10% of drivers failed or refused to provide breath samples.”
As for drugs, when it comes to road testing, 1,484 samples with preliminary drug testing forms were returned last year, an increase of 137% over the 625 returned in 2018.
Of these 1,423 indicated a positive for at least one of the four drugs that the machine can detect. Of those positive cases, 66% were positive for cannabis, 42.9% were positive for cocaine, 8.2% were positive for opiates, and 3.8% were positive for benzodiazepines.
According to the SAM: “The overwhelming detection is for illicit drugs rather than opiates and benzodiazepines that can be legitimately bought and / or prescribed, but can also be misused.”
The Bureau tested 3,230 blood or urine samples for the presence of a drug or drugs, a 51% increase from the number tested in 2018 and described as a “significant increase” in the report. It is about three times the number analyzed as recently as 2016. The SAM said toxicological analysis was required for 66% of all samples received, an 11% increase over 2018.
“Of the 3,230 samples tested, 2,375 (74% of toxicology samples and 49% of all samples) were positive for at least one class of drug in preliminary laboratory tests, while 855 (26%) were negative for the selected drugs. “it said.
“The number of drivers with drug results greater than or equal to the legal limits per se was 1,833 in 2019, which represents an increase of 90% compared to 2018. The number of certificates issued derived from the crime per se exceeded the number issued for presence for the first time. “
The workload on confirmatory testing also increased significantly and in the foreword to the report, SAM Director Professor Denis A. Cusack said: “The significant increase in blood and urine samples for analysis continued to challenge the resources of the office”.
He also said: “Of the 3,230 blood and urine samples tested for drugs, 2,375 (74% of toxicology samples and 49% of all samples received) tested positive for at least one class of drug in preliminary tests, which which led to an overall 34% increase in confirmatory drug testing. “
The report shows that 86% of drivers who provided samples last year were male, with those in the 25-34 age group contributing the highest percentage of arrested drivers. Just over a fifth were 24 or younger and 5% were over 65.
Of the total number of breath samples (5,372), 75% were given between 7 pm and 7 am, 11% between 7 am and 1 pm, and the remaining 13% between 1 pm and 7 pm. early weekends were the most likely time for screening and testing.
Regarding Preliminary Drug Testing (PDT) on the Highway / Station, the SAM said there was a “significant increase in mobile use (93%)”, but the use of station-based analyzers remained “very low”.
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