Prevalence of Alcohol and Drugs in Fatal Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) in a Thai Population Between 2018 and 2023
3
Issued Date
2026-04-01
Resource Type
eISSN
27741079
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105032890754
Journal Title
Biomedical Sciences and Clinical Medicine
Volume
65
Issue
2
Start Page
1
End Page
9
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Biomedical Sciences and Clinical Medicine Vol.65 No.2 (2026) , 1-9
Suggested Citation
Chulamanee P., Phuangphung P. Prevalence of Alcohol and Drugs in Fatal Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) in a Thai Population Between 2018 and 2023. Biomedical Sciences and Clinical Medicine Vol.65 No.2 (2026) , 1-9. 9. doi:10.12982/BSCM.2026.18 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/115842
Title
Prevalence of Alcohol and Drugs in Fatal Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) in a Thai Population Between 2018 and 2023
Author(s)
Author's Affiliation
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine and compare the prevalence of alcohol, drugs of abuse and medicines in fatal road traffic injuries (RTIs) in Thailand from 2018 through 2023. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted of fatal RTI cases sent for autopsy at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University from 2018 through 2023. Subject data, including sex, age, type of RTI case, blood alcohol concentration (BAC), and urine drug profile, were collected. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, Mann– Whitney U tests, and Kruskal–Wallis H tests were performed as appropriate. RESULTS From 2018 through 2023 a total of 1,979 fatal RTI cases were included in this study. Of those cases, 1,649 were male (83.3%) and the mean subject age was 37.3 years. The yearly prevalence of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol (BAC > 50 mg/dL) during the study period was between 45.80% and 53.40% with the exception of 2022, which showed a significant increase at 57.10% (p < 0.05). The prevalence of drugs in 2023 was 21.00%, a significant difference compared with the prevalence in 2018 of 13.70% (p < 0.05). The prevalence of cannabis use showed an increasing trend, with a statistically significant increase in 2023 (p < 0.05). The prevalence of multiple drug use also significantly increased over the study period, particularly in 2023 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of drugs of abuse and medication in fatal RTI cases markedly increased over the study period, particularly in 2023. There was a significant increase in cannabis use and poly-drug use in fatal RTI cases over the period, especially in 2023.