Silva O.A., Greve J.M.D.A., Yonamine M.

Laboratorio de Analises Toxicologicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580 - 05508-900, São Paulo, Brazil

Like any other country abuse of drugs is a growing problem in Brazil. Unfortunately surveys on the pattern of psychotropic drug use have rarely been conducted in Brazil. Very scarce statistics show that the commonly used substances are: alcohol, volatile substances, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines and benzodiazepines. Some kinds of drugs are used by particular members of society. Professional drivers regard drugs as stimulants that improve performance in long-distance driving. In Brazil those who are suspected to have been driving under the influence of drugs are tested only for ethanol so the aim of this study is to obtain a preliminary assessment in view of verifying the abuse of drugs by truck drivers.
Urine samples were collected in three different regions in Brazil: south, northeast and southeast. The sample donors selected were not suspected to have been driving under the influence of drugs so the samples were collected and analysed anonymously. A total of 483 samples were submitted to Laboratorio de Analises Toxicologicas da Universidade de Sao Paulo, for analysis of: amphetamine, methamphetamine, fenproporex (N-2-Cyanoethyl amphetamine), cannabis and cocaine. Fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) was utilized for urine drug screening. To confirm positive results immunoassay screening a capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used.
The obtained results were: 4.14 % of all analysed samples were positive for the presence of drugs. The frequency at which drugs were encountered was: Cannabis 10%; Amphetamine 60%; Fenproporex 45% and Cocaine 10%. Of all positives cases 50 % were for two drugs: 90% were positive for amphetamine and fenproporex. Probably the origin of amphetamine positive cases was fenproporex use. To confirm this assumption, 60% of world production of fenproporex have been freely used as anorectic or drug of abuse in Brazil.
As a preliminary assessment this study confirms the necessity to go on collecting baseline data for subsequent development of national drug and alcohol polices.