Originalni ~lanci/ Original articles DRIVERS DRUG-TESTING IN BULGARIA: 2012. TESTIRANJE VOZA^A NA SREDSTVA ZLOUPOTREBE U BUGARSKOJ 2012.

In the study we described the results of 57 drivers’ samples (blood and/or urine) subjected to confirming laboratory analysis for presence of drugs of abuse during 2012 in Bulgaria. The aim of the research was to follow the current protocol for drivers testing in Bulgaria as well as to comment the first analytical results after initiation of roadside oral drug testing. The critical analysis of the pre-analytical stage led to the conclusion that some changes in the national regulation protocol for alcohol and drug testing of drivers are required as: i) the urine should be used as a confirming sample in the laboratory; ii) more information about the roadside testing results is needed to be submitted with samples. The analytical data from the laboratory testing present the distribution of the drivers as age, sex and group / individual compound of psychoactive drugs. The results confirm the sociological information for drugs of abuse in the country – the target group is the young population (18-25 years old) and the most used drugs are cannabis (THC) and amphetamine. The comparison of the laboratory results with these of roadside testing shows very good correlation of the results for oral fluid / blood (urine), but in some cases there are differences (false positive results for saliva or false negative results in case of more than one drug presented).