[Detection of amphetamine derivatives in chemical toxicological studies 1987-1993 in the greater Frankfurt area].

Abstract

Chemical-toxicological testing during the period from 1987 to 1993 revealed a remarkable increase in amphetamine positive cases in the greater Frankfurt area. Amphetamine abuse is particularly worrying in car drivers, where the proportion of amphetamine positive cases increased from 0.49% in 1987 to 9.40% in 1993. Considering the fact, that the only samples tested were the ones of drivers exhibiting an impaired driving performance, the number of cases remaining undetected is most certainly higher. This study also demonstrated that amphetamine derivatives are rarely consumed on their own. In most cases (80%) they are consumed in conjunction with cannabis. The additional use of tranquillisers occurred more often than that of cocaine. It seems that amphetamine abuse plays only a minor role with heroin users. This is emphasised by the low number of drug fatalities.

• Authors: J Röhrich, K Schmidt, H Bratzke
• Journal: Blutalkohol (Blutalkohol) Vol. 32 Issue 1 Pg. 42-9 (Jan 1995) ISSN: 0006-5250 [Print] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Nachweis von Amphetamin-Derivaten bei chemisch-toxikologischen Untersuchungen über den Zeitraum 1987-1993 im Grossraum Frankfurt.
• PMID: 7880488 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Amphetamines

Topics

• Amphetamines (pharmacokinetics)
• Automobile Driving (legislation & jurisprudence, statistics & numerical data)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Germany (epidemiology)
• Humans
• Incidence
• Mass Screening
• Substance Abuse Detection (statistics & numerical data)
• Substance-Related Disorders (diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Urban Population (statistics & numerical data)