Assessment of amphetamine use by professional drivers through urine toxicological analysis

• Grant number: 11/02848-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2011
• Effective date (End): September 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Toxicological Analysis
• Principal Investigator: Mauricio Yonamine
• Grantee: Juliana Takitane
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In Brazil, about 35 thousand people a year are killed in traffic accidents, with expressive costs for the government. It is known that the consumption of amphetamines, popularly known in Brazil as "rebites", is a common practice among drivers, especially those who are transporting goods, aiming to stay in an alert state. Those substances are potent Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulants, with a high potential for causing addiction. However, when the effect is over, a marked depression of the CNS is observed, which can be a risk factor for the onset of accidents on roads, including loss of life. Although the consumption of psychoactive substances by professional drivers is a subject of great concern in Brazil, scientific evidence on this issue is still scarce. Thus, the objective of the present study is to assess the use of amphetamines by professional drivers who pass through roads in the State of Sao Paulo. This study also aims to establish and validate analytical methods for the determination of amphetamines (amphetamine, phemproporex and amphepramone) in urine, through high performance liquid-chromatography (HPLC) for the trial stage of toxicological analysis, and gas-chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for the confirmation of positive cases. About 400 samples of urine will be collected from driver who will participate in preventive actions carried out by the Federal Department of Road Police (FDRP), entitled "Health Commands on the Roads", in 2011 and 2012, in places established by the FDRP and the established analytical methods will be applied on those samples. Furthermore, socio-demographical and health data on the drivers participating in the study will be obtained by applying a structured questionnaire. The results of this study will provide the basis for articles which will be submitted for publication in scientific journals specialized in the field and can also subsidize public policies aiming to prevent accidents and enforce traffic laws. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

TAKITANE, JULIANA; ALMEIDA, RAFAEL M.; OLIVEIRA, TIAGO F.; PRADO, NATANAEL V.; MUNOZ, DANIELR.; LEYTON, VILMA; YONAMINE, MAURICIO. Determination of Amphetamine, Amfepramone and Fenproporex in Urine Samples by HPLC-DAD: Application to a Population of Brazilian Truck Drivers. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, v. 27, n. 3, p. 624-630, MAR 2016. (11/02848-1)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

TAKITANE, Juliana. Assessment of amphetamine use by professional drivers through urine toxicological analysis. 2014. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina (FM/SBD) São Paulo.