Drugged Driving in the Opioid Era: Spatial Patterns of Oxycodone Use in Fatal Traffic Crashes, 2001–2016

ABSTRACT

Background: A large and growing body of research and news media reports have documented the recent opioid crisis, which is linked to the emergence of the “Oxy epidemic” in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Since then, oxycodone drugged driving has increased, but spatial characteristics are unknown. Methods: This research analyzes 3,396 locations of oxycodone positivity in drivers involved in fatal traffic crashes from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2001–2016. Results: There is a consistent pattern of nonrandom spatial clusters of oxycodone drugged driving during the period, as expected. Conclusion: Traffic fatality data are useful in identifying areas for targeted public health and safety interventions.

KEYWORDS:

• Opioids
• oxycodone
• drugged driving
• traffic fatalities
• spatial analysis

Declaration of Interest

The author reports no conflict of interest. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of the article.