Detecting Alcohol and Illicit Drugs in Oral Fluid Samples Collected from Truck Drivers in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Objective: Alcohol and drug use by truck drivers is a current problem in Brazil. Though there is evidence that alcohol consumption is occurring in higher proportions, the use of stimulant drugs to avoid fatigue and to maintain the work schedule has also been reported. The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence of alcohol and illicit drug use among truck drivers on Sao Paulo state roads. Sao Paulo is the most populous state in Brazil and has the largest industrial park and economic production in the country. Methods: Data were assessed not only using a questionnaire but also, and more reliably, through toxicological analysis of oral fluid samples. Between the years 2002 and 2008, 1250 oral fluid samples were collected from truck drivers on the roads during morning hours. The samples were tested for the presence of alcohol, cocaine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and amphetamine/methamphetamine. A previously published, validated gas chromatographic (gas chromatography–flame ionization detection an...