Use of psychoactive substances by goods carriage drivers associated with Kerala, India

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to measure the prevalence of drugs of abuse (DOA) among the goods carriage drivers associated with the southern State of India, Kerala.

Methods

Point-of-collection testing (POCT) of oral fluid collected from the participants (n = 249) was done using the Evidence MultiSTAT DOA Oral Fluid II Assay kits and the Evidence MultiSTAT analyzer.

Results

Out of the total samples, 53 (21.29%) were positive for one or more DOA. A high prevalence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (10.04%) and synthetic cannabinoids were detected in the samples. The use of ketamine, alpha-PVP, LSD, methamphetamine, opiate, 6-MAM, benzodiazepines I, methadone, PCP, tramadol, and amphetamine was also detected and their frequency of use ranged between 4.02 and 0.80%. An association between drug abuse and distance of travel was found in drivers in this study, χ² (5, N = 249) = 123.5, p < 0.001. Confirmatory analysis using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry showed excellent agreement with the results of the screening test.

Conclusions

This was the first study conducted among drivers in India for the detection of DOA. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was used more by the goods carriage drivers associated with Kerala State, India. The use of psychoactive substances significantly increased with the distance of travel. Point-of-collection testing (POCT) by the biochip array technology is an efficient method for the detection of these substances.

Keywords:

• New psychoactive substances
• drivers
• point-of-collection testing
• bio-chip array technology

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Randox Toxicology, UK, and Intra Globus Biosystems Pvt. Ltd (IGB), India for technical assistance. The support from the officers of the Excise Department, Government of Kerala, India, directly and indirectly, supported this study; especially Shri. S. Aananthakrishnan IPS, Excise Commissioner, Shri. R. Jayachandran, Assistant Excise Commissioner, EI & IB, North Zone is gratefully acknowledged. Special thanks to Shri. Sangeeth M.S., and Shri. Binshad M.S., M.Sc. Forensic Science students, Kerala Police for their assistance in sample collection. The cooperation and continuous support in the assay of the samples by the technical team from the CDRL, St. Joseph’s College, Irinjalakuda, Thrissur, Kerala; Department of Zoology, University of Calicut, Kerala; M.Sc. Forensic Science program, Department of Life Sciences, University of Calicut, Kerala Police Academy, Thrissur, Kerala was essential for this study.

Consent to participate

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Consent to publish

No approval is required by the ethics committee.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethical approval

The methodology for this study was approved by the Calicut University Human Ethical Committee, Malappuram, Kerala, India (Ref. No.: 001/CUHEC/2020-21 dated 20.01.2021).

Data availability statement

The data generated/analyzed as part of this study is available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.