Cannabinoid concentrations detected in fatal road traffic collision victims compared with a population of other postmortem cases
OA Location
Author(s)
Andrews, Rebecca
Murphy, Kevin G
Nahar, Limon
Paterson, Sue
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acute cannabis consumption nearly doubles the risk of motor vehicle collision resulting in injury or death. Limited data have been published regarding the concentrations of cannabinoids associated with fatal road traffic collisions (RTCs), and these have not previously been compared to a population of other postmortem cases.
METHODS: We conducted analysis for cannabinoids [Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-hydroxy-THC, 11-nor-THC-9-carboxylic acid, cannabidiol, and cannabinol], drugs, and alcohol on consecutive fatal RTC cases (100) and non-RTC cases (114) from coroners' jurisdictions in London and southeast England and compared the data.
RESULTS: The incidence of cannabinoids detected in non-RTC and RTC cases was similar (25% vs 21%, P = 0.44), but THC was detected more frequently (90% vs 59%, P = 0.01) and at significantly higher concentrations in the cannabinoid-positive RTC cases than the non-RTC cases (P = 0.01). The distribution of non-RTC and RTC cases over 4 categories of THC concentration was significantly different (P = 0.004). There was no significant difference in the concentrations of other cannabinoids detected between the 2 groups. Cannabinoids were detected in more fatal RTC cases (21) than alcohol >80 mg/dL (17). Detection of other drugs was low compared to cannabis and alcohol.
CONCLUSIONS: These first data on the concentrations of cannabinoids in the postmortem blood of fatal RTC victims compared with a population of other routine coroners' cases highlight the importance of specifically measuring THC concentrations in the blood to aid interpretation of postmortem cases where cannabis may be implicated.
METHODS: We conducted analysis for cannabinoids [Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-hydroxy-THC, 11-nor-THC-9-carboxylic acid, cannabidiol, and cannabinol], drugs, and alcohol on consecutive fatal RTC cases (100) and non-RTC cases (114) from coroners' jurisdictions in London and southeast England and compared the data.
RESULTS: The incidence of cannabinoids detected in non-RTC and RTC cases was similar (25% vs 21%, P = 0.44), but THC was detected more frequently (90% vs 59%, P = 0.01) and at significantly higher concentrations in the cannabinoid-positive RTC cases than the non-RTC cases (P = 0.01). The distribution of non-RTC and RTC cases over 4 categories of THC concentration was significantly different (P = 0.004). There was no significant difference in the concentrations of other cannabinoids detected between the 2 groups. Cannabinoids were detected in more fatal RTC cases (21) than alcohol >80 mg/dL (17). Detection of other drugs was low compared to cannabis and alcohol.
CONCLUSIONS: These first data on the concentrations of cannabinoids in the postmortem blood of fatal RTC victims compared with a population of other routine coroners' cases highlight the importance of specifically measuring THC concentrations in the blood to aid interpretation of postmortem cases where cannabis may be implicated.
Date Issued
2015-09-28
Date Acceptance
2015-06-29
Citation
Clinical Chemistry, 2015, 61 (10), pp.1256-1264
ISSN
1530-8561
Publisher
American Association for Clinical Chemistry
Start Page
1256
End Page
1264
Journal / Book Title
Clinical Chemistry
Volume
61
Issue
10
Copyright Statement
© 2015 American Association for Clinical Chemistry
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000362692600010&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Medical Laboratory Technology
CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY
2-DIMENSIONAL GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY
INJURED DRIVERS
WHOLE-BLOOD
DRUGS
MARIJUANA
PREVALENCE
EXTRACTION
ALCOHOL
CRASHES
Publication Status
Published