Twelve-hour before Driving Prevalence of Alcohol and Drug Use among Heavy Vehicle Drivers in South East of Iran Using Network Scale Up

Background: Heavy vehicle drivers spend a great deal of time away from their families. This issue and other difficulties around their job may increase risky behaviors among them. The current study aims to investigate the prevalence of opium drugs, stimulants, cannabis, and alcohol use ۱۲ hours before driving among heavy vehicle drivers. Methods: We selected two sites that were in charge of medical examination of drivers and recruited ۳۶۳ drivers of heavy vehicles (trucks, trailers, and buses). We asked drivers about total number of drivers they knew and number of drivers who experienced use of different types of drugs. The data were analyzed using Network Scale Up Method (NSUM). Findings: Mean of age and job experience was ۴۳.۲۸ ± ۱۰.۰۴ years and ۱۶.۰۷ ± ۹.۶۷ years, respectively. The highest and lowest prevalence of drug use related to opium-based drugs at ۱۲.۸% to ۱۴.۰% and simulants at ۱.۹۷% to ۲.۸۴%, respectively. The prevalence of alcohol use ۱۲ hours before driving was ۴%. Conclusion: ۱۲-hour before driving prevalence of opium-based drugs among drivers was high. This might put them in higher risk of road accidents. There is a need to design appropriate educational programs for them.

Keywords:

Drivers , Trucks , Drug abuse , Alcoholism , Network scale up