--- title: "More Than Half of Serious Crashes Involve Drugs, NHTSA Study Suggests" description: "Alcohol and marijuana were two of the most common drugs, but controlled substances weren't uncommon either." date: "2022-12-14" modified: "2022-12-14" authors: - name: "James Gilboy" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/james-gilboy" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/more-than-half-of-serious-crashes-involve-drugs-nhtsa-study-suggests" categories: - "News" --- # More Than Half of Serious Crashes Involve Drugs, NHTSA Study Suggests ![FULLERTON, CA - FEBRUARY 10: Heather Barclay, an accident investigator with the Fullerton Police Department, gathers evidence that was lodged underneath a pickup truck. The driver, identified as Christopher Solis, 22, veered onto a sidewalk and hit 9 pedestrians, police said. Some of the victims were trapped beneath the truck, according to authorities. (Photo by Mindy Schauer/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)]() *\Getty Images\* A study this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that more than half of serious crashes included detectable psychoactive substances, such as alcohol or other [drugs](). Conducted between the NHTSA and third-party researchers, the [study]() gathered data from 7,279 road users processed at seven selected Level 1 trauma centers after being seriously or fatally injured in a crash. Toxicology panels found that 55.8% of study subjects tested positive for psychoactive substances in their systems, with 19.9% testing positive for two or more substances. In fatal crashes, that figure spiked to 32%. The most common substances detected were THC cannabinoids, the psychoactive components of [marijuana](), which appeared in 25.1% of those tested. [Alcohol]() placed a close second at 23.1%, with almost 20% of study subjects exceeding the national legal limit of 0.08% blood-alcohol content, according to The Associated Press. (Note that alcohol remains detectable in the blood only half as long as cannabinoids, according to [American Addiction Centers](), lingering six hours as opposed to cannabinoids' 12.) ![]() *Table of toxicology panel results from the NHTSA study. *NHTSA** A further 10.8% of subjects tested positive for controlled stimulants (not caffeine), while 9.3% showed up for opioids. Other classes of drugs, such as antidepressants, sedatives, over-the-counter medications, and miscellaneous substances made up smaller proportions of the results. Substance choice was found to correlate with the age and sex of study subjects, as well as the time of day and day of the week of the crash. Despite suggesting impaired driving trends that NHTSA research psychologist Amy Berning called "a concern," she advised not to read too deeply into the study's results. Berning cautioned that the data pool isn't representative of the whole country, and that subjects were only tested for the *presence* of certain drugs, not for levels that would indicate impairment. Many drugs in the study, such as methylphenidate, [can remain detectable in the body for days, even weeks after its prescribed use](). The study also integrated data from injured bicyclists and pedestrians, though it did not control for the design of roads or intersections where crashes occurred, which influence crash severity, according to [BMJ Journal](). Still, with 937 people dying in crashes involving impaired drivers in December 2020 alone, the study serves as a timely reminder to stay sober on the road this holiday season. *Got a tip or question for the author? You can reach them here: james@thedrive.com* ## Author James is a former staff writer for The Drive. He has changed the conversation around electrification, debunked misinformation online, and become a prominent hunter of what he calls "automotive cryptids." ### Author social links [Instagram]()