Worldwide Prevalence of Alcohol Use in Non-Fatally Injured Motor Vehicle Drivers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Kazakhstani Drivers and Substance Abuse During COVID-19: A Study of Patterns and Disaster Readiness

Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected public health and social behavior, contributing to increased psychoactive substance (PAS) use due to social isolation, economic stress, and uncertainty. This study aims to assess the impact of the pandemic on alcohol, cannabinoid, and opioid consumption among drivers involved in road traffic accidents (RTAs) in Kazakhstan. Understanding these patterns is essential for improving public health policies and road safety measures during crises. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed medical records from the Digital System of Medical Examination, a national database of drivers involved in traffic accidents in Kazakhstan. This study included 157,490 anonymized records from 1 January 2019, to 31 December 2020, categorizing cases into pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 groups on the basis of the first nationwide lockdown on 16 March 2020. Statistical analyses, including prevalence rates and relative changes, were conducted via SPSS 20, while spatial distributions were visualized via QGIS software. Results: An analysis of all the records revealed a 12.9% decline in traffic accidents during the pandemic, with male drivers predominating during both periods. The mean age of the drivers in the compared groups was 36. Alcohol and cannabinoid use significantly increased during the COVID-19 period by 3.71% and 11.51%, respectively. In contrast, opioid use declined by 10.00%, but the difference was not statistically significant. The greatest increase in positive alcohol tests among drivers was observed in the Atyrau (94.80%), Pavlodar (35.43%), and North Kazakhstan (31.02%) regions, and Atyrau also presented the greatest increase in cannabinoid-positive cases. Conclusions: The results indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdown measures have affected PAS consumption patterns among drivers. These findings are crucial for informing policies and developing strategies to improve road safety during future public health emergencies.

Assessing the global data availability and characteristics of eight risk factors for road traffic injury: an evaluation study across 194 countries/territories, 2000-2019

Background

Freely accessible data concerning modifiable risk factors for road traffic injury are critical for research and for evidence-based policymaking. This study investigated free-access availability and the major characteristics of nationally representative data on eight major risk factors for road traffic injury across 194 World Health Organization member countries/territories from 2000 to 2019.

Methods

We systematically searched and reviewed data sources from governmental departments, multi-country road safety research projects, and international organisations. Two researchers independently searched, screened, and extracted data. We assessed free-access availability of data for eight risk factors based on the presence of data from 2000 to 2019. Major data characteristics were evaluated for all included data sources, consisting of operational definitions, method of data collection, and sampling method.

Results

We identified 79 sources providing free-access available data on at least one of the eight risk factors. During 2000-2019, the number of countries/territories with freely-access data generally rose over time. However, only 134 of 194 countries/territories (69%) had at least one year of free-access data involving one or more risk factors, and 70% of those 134 countries/territories were high-income or upper middle-income countries. Large data heterogeneity existed across the data sources in terms of operational definitions used, method of data collection, years of data coverage, and sampling method. Operational definitions varied widely across the eight risk factors, ranging from 3 definitions used for fatigue driving to 17 definitions for seatbelts; and the proportion of data sources that adopted the recommended Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) definitions ranged from 25.5% for distracted driving to 77.8% for child restraint systems. Roadside observations were predominantly used to collect exposure data for six risk factors. Many free-access data sets were completely or partially based on non-probability sampling, and the sampling information was unknown for some additional data sources.

Conclusions

Availability of free-access data on road traffic injury risks generally improved globally, but was still absent for 60 countries/territories. The substantial heterogeneity of free-access data across the existing data sources warrants further research efforts and international coordination.

Unveiling the road to safety: Understanding the factors influencing motorcycle accidents among riders in rural Chiang Mai, Thailand

Background

Motorcycle accidents pose a significant threat to traffic safety in Thailand, particularly in rural areas where the severity of these accidents often results in prolonged medical treatment and a reduction in the quality of life of the affected individual.

Objectives

To investigate the prevalence and the factors associated with motorcycle accidents among motorcycle riders in rural areas in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2022 to March 2023 via an anonymous survey in Chiang Mai, Thailand. A total of 308 participants engaged with the survey. The data about background information, motorcycle details, personal protective equipment, risky behaviors, attitude toward riding, and history of motorcycle accidents in the prior six months were collected and analyzed by binary logistic regression.

Results

Of 308 participants, the mean age was 56 years old (SD = 14.2), females were 56.8 % (N = 175), 51 % had co-morbidity, and 40.6 % were active alcohol drinkers. The prevalence of individuals who experienced a motorcycle accident within the previous six months was 57.1 %. Notably, the most unsafe riding behavior was not wearing a helmet while riding, which had a prevalence of more than 80 % in both the accident and non-accident groups. The study found significant associated factors for motorcycle accidents in rural communities, including the history of alcohol consumption (aOR 1.71, 95 % CI: 1.05,2.79), changing lanes without using turn signals (aOR 1.93, 95 % CI: 1.07,3.48) and those who strongly disagree with the notion that listening to music while riding is dangerous (aOR 2.80, 95 % CI: 1.06, 7.43).

Conclusion

Over half of motorcycle riders have been in accidents. These findings emphasize the need to enforce drunk-driving and traffic laws. Comprehensive motorcycle rider education and safety training are needed to encourage responsible riding.

The Roles of Endogenous D2R Dopamine and μ-opioid Receptors of the Brain in Alcohol use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by a strong physiological and psychological craving to consume large amounts of alcohol despite adverse consequences. Alcohol use disorder carries a large health and economic burden on society. Despite its prevalence, AUD is still severely undertreated. The precise molecular mechanisms of how alcohol addiction forms are yet unknown. However, previous studies on animal models show that along with the μ-opioid receptors, the D2R dopamine receptors may also be involved in alcohol craving and reward pathways. Currently, there is a limited number of treatment strategies for alcohol use disorder, which include several medications and therapy. By understanding the limitations of current treatment options and exploring new potential targets, it could be possible to find more effective ways of treating AUD in the future.