USE OF ALCOHOL AND
OTHER DRUGS
ON BRAZILIAN ROADS
AND OTHER STUDIES
President of the Federative Republic of Brazil
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Vice-President of the Federative Republic of Brazil
José Alencar Gomes da Silva
Minister of the Institutional Security Cabinet of the Office of the President and
President of the National Drug Policies Council - CONAD
Jorge Armando Felix
Minister of Justice
Luiz Paulo Telles Barreto
Minister of Cities
Márcio Fortes de Almeida
National Secretariat for Drug Policies
Paulo Roberto Yog de Miranda Uchôa
Deputy National Secretary for Drug Policies and Technical Representative at
Senad
Paulina do Carmo Arruda Vieira Duarte
U84
Use of alcohol and other drugs on brazilian
roads and other studies / Flavio Pechansky,
Paulina do Carmo Arruda Vieira Duarte,
Raquel Brandini De Boni, org.; - translated
by Ângela Maria Silveira - TraduMed –
Porto Alegre: National Secretariat for Drugs
Policies; 2010.
121 p.
ISBN 978-85-60662-48-7
1. Alcohol drinking. 2. Substance-related
disorders. 3. Psychiatry. I. Pechansky,
Flávio. II Duarte, Paulina do Carmo
Arruda Vieira. III De Boni, Raquel Brandini.
CDU: 616.89
Cataloguing in publication: Maria Luiza Farias de Campos – CRB10/1820
Original title: Uso de bebidas alcoólicas e outras drogas nas
rodovias brasileiras e outros estudos
Cover
Ronald Souza
Publication
Digitalcom Comunicação & Design Ltda
Revision
Ana Paula dos Santos Zacca
Introduction
There is much evidence of the high economic and social costs of inappropriate consumption
of alcoholic beverages. These costs are a direct consequence of the damage to individual and
collective health, of the high number of accidents, and of cases of violence, early disability,
and, unfortunately, a large number of deaths.
Other psychoactive drugs besides alcohol, consumed by drivers, are a constant concern for
the government and society at large. The association between drugs and accidents impacts
not only on the number of traffic accidents but, above all, in their severity.
Being aware of this reality, and in accordance with the principles of the National Policy on
Drugs and the National Policy on Alcohol, the Federal Government sponsored the “Study on
the impact of the use of alcoholic beverages and other psychoactive substances on Brazilian
traffic”. This study is unprecedented in Brazil and presents information on the extent and
pattern of use of alcohol and other drugs by private and professional drivers, its impact on
the number and severity of traffic accidents, besides producing an estimate of social and
economic costs related to the problem.
Developed by the National National Secretariat for Drug Policies (SENAD), in partnership
with the National Program of Public Security with Citizenship (PRONASCI), the Federal Police
Department, the Federal Highway Police Department, the National Health Surveillance Agency
(ANVISA) and the National Traffic Department (DENATRAN), this study, conducted by the
Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) will certainly be an important asset to foster
scientific knowledge on the subject, in addition to guiding and legitimizing global public
policies, capable of preventing and reducing damage caused by the dangerous association
between alcohol, other drugs, and traffic.
JORGE ARMANDO FELIX
Minister of the Institutional Security Cabinet of the Office of the President and President of the National Drug Policies
Council - CONAD
Foreword
This book is the product of the collective effort of more than 130 professionals. From
the initial contacts until its publication, approximately four years have passed. The idea was
born from a common interest between the National Secretariat for Drug Policies – SENAD,
and the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul – UFGRS. After initial discussions, it was
developed into a huge nucleus for the production of information and innovative research
technologies in the field of traffic and alcohol in Brazil. For the implementation of the many
studies described in this book, SENAD developed a specific managerial structure to follow
this large project, including the allocation of professionals specially assigned to it in full time.
The UFRGS created the NEPTA group – The Nucleus for the Study and Research on Traffic and
Alcohol, now a formal research group of the National Council on Research (CNPq) ,which
gathers professionals engaged on this area of knowledge. The NEPTA group could be created
thanks to the involvement of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) where the UFRGS
Center for Drug and Alcohol Research (CPAD) was established five years ago. A permanent
organization, NEPTA will not cease to exist when the data collection and analysis of this
project ends. It will continue to develop knowledge and research methodology, gathering
professionals, and establishing partnerships with other institutions, for the purpose of
contributing to the advancement of science.
The book presented here comprises 15 chapters divided into two main sections. Section A
introduces the subject alcohol/other drugs/traffic, and has six conceptual chapters, ranging
from the political and technical issues involved in implementing the project at a local and
national level, to the description of the data collection scenarios, aiming at placing the reader
inside the peculiar reality of obtaining research information in an atypical environment such
as national highways. It also presents chapters on the history of alcohol related to traffic in
Brazil, on the theory that studies the economic impact of traffic accidents, and on the delicate
ethical and legal aspects of this type of study. There is also a chapter on the toxicological
essays used to obtain biological samples of the drivers studied in the different projects.
Section B is mostly practical. It has nine chapters that describe in detail the data data
collections routine of the different studies and the main findings analyzed until the date when
this book was finalized. The main focus is not a large and detailed theoretical dissertation on
each of the subjects researched, but rather a minute description on the methods – what will
entitle other research groups to repeat and improve data collections of this kind – as well as
the main findings.
For the sake of concision, all the annexes mentioned in the footnotes are available for full
access to the reader in the website of the Brazilian Observatory on Drug Information – OBID
(www.obid.senad.gov.br) and the CPAD website (www.cpad.org.br)
The partnership between the many branches of government – especially the Presidency,
Ministry of Education, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Cities, through
different organs and Departments – has proved that interdisciplinarity is an achievable goal.
Different players participated in the intense articulation necessary to complete eight research
projects in little over two years, in some cases encompassing all State capitals.
It is impossible, in this introductory note, to thank all of those who so diligently dedicated
time and effort to the appropriate implementation of the research steps anticipated for the
project. A complete list of partners can be found at the end of this book. Above all, we
would like to acknowledge the dozens of data collectors and support personnel – as well
as the group that performed the data collections in the state capitals - for their dedication
in accomplishing their task. The special effort of Fernanda Cubas and Sinara Santos in the
editorial supervision of this book should also be emphasized. Certainly the quality of this
material mirrors the motivation and dedication of those professionals throughout the period
of the studies.
Flavio Pechansky
Paulina do Carmo Arruda Vieira Duarte
Raquel Brandini De Boni
September 2010
List of Collaborators
Ana Paula Schmidt Metzger – Medical Student.
Anne Sordi – M.D., collaborating with HCPA/UFRGS CPAD, Medical Resident in Psychiatry at HCPA.
Bárbara Diniz – Biologist, Master’s Degree Student in Medical Sciences at the UFCSPA, Supervisor of VIVAVOZ.
Bárbara Ponzi Holmer – Psychologist, Research Assistant at HCPA/UFRGS CPAD.
Breno Matte
– M.D., Collaborator in the Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder Program of the HCPA/UFRGS,
Medical Resident in Psychiatry at HCPA.
Carl Leukefeld – Social Worker, Professor of Behavioral Science in the Departments of Psychiatry and Social Assistance
at the University of Kentucky, Director of the Drug and Alcohol Research Center of the University of Kentucky.
Carolina Fernández Fernandes – Lawyer, Master’s Degree Student in Public Law at Unisinos/RS and researcher at
the Research Laboratory on Bioethics and Ethics in Science.
Cássio Machado – Psychology Student.
Christian Kieling – Physician, Doctoral Degree Student in Psychiatry at UFRGS, Medical Resident in Psychiatry at the HCPA.
Cláudia Maciel Szobot
– Psiquiatra, Mestre e Doutora em Psiquiatria pela UFRGS, Pesquisadora do Programa
Nacional de Pós-Doutorado/CAPES.
Daniela Benzano – Statistics Student, Statistics Consultant for the NEPTA and HCPA/UFRGS CPAD.
Daniela Goya Tochetto – Economist, Master in Economics
by the UFRGS and Master in Philosophy by the London
School of Economics.
Daniele Zago Souza – Pharmacist, Master’s Degree Student in Pharmaceutical Science at UFRGS, Federal Forensics
Expert in the Federal Police Department.
Débora S. Prusch – Pharmacy Student at UFRGS.
Deise Schroeter – Psychologist, Research Assistant at HCPA/UFRGS CPAD.
Eliseu Weber – Agronomist, Master in Remote Sensing by UFRGS and Researcher at UFRGS.
Eloisa Comiran – Pharmacist, Collaborator at the Toxicological Analysis Laboratory of HCPA/UFRGS.
Esmeralda Correa
– Economist, Doctoral Student in Developmental Economy at the UFRGS, Research Assistant at
HCPA/UFRGS CPAD.
Fernanda Cubas de Paula – Psychologist, Master in Health Psychology by the UCDB, Research Assistant at the
HCPA/UFRGS CPAD.
Fernanda Kreische – Medical Resident in Psychiatry at HCPA, Collaborator at HCPA/UFRGS CPAD.
Fernanda dos Santos de Oliveira – Biologist, PhD
Flavio Pechansky
in Child and Adolescent Health – UFRGS.
– Psychiatrist,.Doctor in Medicine – Clinical Medicine by UFRGS, Head of HCPA/ UFRGS CPAD,
Coordinator of UFRGS NEPTA UFRGS, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UFRGS.
Francisco Inácio Bastos – Psychiatrist, PhD in Public Health, Full Researcher for the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation.
Heinrich Hasenack – Geographer, Professor in the Department of Ecology of UFRGS.
Helena Hubert Silva – M.D., Medical Examiner in the Office of the Medical Examiner, Coordinator of the Teaching
and Research Section of the Office of the Medical Examine (DML/IGP).
Helena Maria Tannhauser Barros
– M.D. PhD of Neuropsychopharmacology by UNIFESP, Coordinator of
VIVAVOZ.
Ivomar Zancanaro – Pharmacist, Special Doctoral student, Toxicology Laboratory/LaTox/UFRGS.
José Roberto Goldim
– Biologist,.Doctor in Medicine by UFRGS, Responsible for the Research Laboratory in
Bioethics and Ethics in Science at HCPA/UFRGS.
Júlia Schneider Protas – Psychologist, Master’s Degree Student in Medical Sciences at UFRGS.
Juliana Camargo – Economist, Master’s Degree Student in Applied Economy at PPGE/UFRGS.
Kristiane de Cássia Mariotti – Pharmacist, Master’s Degree Student in Pharmaceutical Science at the UFRGS.
Lísia Von Diemen
– Psychiatrist, Doctoral Student in Psychiatry at the UFRGS, Coordinator of the Data Analysis
Sector of CPAD, Researcher at NEPTA and CPAD.
Luis Augusto Rohde
– Psychiatrist, Doctor in Medicine by UFRGS, Director of the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Program at HCPA, Associate Professor in the Psychiatry Department of UFRGS.
Márcia Maria Martins Lopes – Psychologist, General Coordinator of Project Management of SENAD/GSI/PR.
Márcia Santana Fernandes – Lawyer, Post-doctoral student in the Graduate Program of Medicine at the UFRGS
Medical School., Collaborator for the Research Laboratory in Bioethics and Ethics in Science at HCPA/UFRGS.
Marianne Zwilling Stampe – Economist, Doctoral Student in Economics at the UFRGS.
Maristela Ferigolo – Pharmacist-biochemist, PhD in Medical Sciences by UFRGS, Coordinator of VIVAVOZ Service.
Mauricio de Vasconcellos – EStatistician, PhD in Public Health at the National Public Health School of the Oswaldo
Cruz Foundation, Researcher of the Evandro Chagas Institute of Clinical Research of Fiocruz.
Mauro Soibelman – Physician, Masters Degree in Medicine – Clinical Medicine by the UFRGS, Assistant Professor at
UFRGS, Physician of the Porto Alegre City Administration, Epidemiology Consultant for NEPTA
Paula O. Boehl
– Pharmacy Student at UFRGS, Collaborator of the Laboratory of Toxicological Analysis of HCPA/
UFRGS.
Paulina do Carmo Arruda Vieira Duarte – Social Worker. PhD in Science by the Medical School of the University
of São Paulo, Deputy National Secretary for Drug Policies - SENAD.
Pedro E. Fröehlich – Pharmacist, MSc. and PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences by UFRGS.
Raquel Brandini de Boni – Psychiatrist, Doctoral Student in Psychiatry at UFRGS, Researcher at
NEPTA and HCPA/
UFRGS CPAD.
Renata Rocha Kieling
– Physician, Collaborator of the Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder Program of
HCPA/UFRGS.
Renata P. Limberger – Pharmacist, PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences by UFRGS, Assistant Professor at
Roberta P. S. Coelho
UFRGS.
– Psicóloga, Mestranda em Cognição Humana pela PUC-RS, Pesquisadora do Programa de
Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade do HCPA/UFRGS.
Robson Robin da Silva – Lawyer, Federal Police Marshall, General Coordinator of Strategic Projects for SENAD/
GSI/PR.
Sabino da Silva Porto Júnior
– Economist, PhD in Economics by UFRGS, Full Professor in the Department of
Economics and in the Graduate Program in Economics of UFRGS.
Sibele Faller – Psychologist, Master in Psychiatry by UFRGS, Researcher for the NEPTA and the CPAD.
Sinara Santos – Psychologist, Research Assistant at HCPA/UFRGS CPAD.
Taís de Campos Moreira
– Speech Therapist, Master in Medical Sciences by UFCSPA, Supervisor of the VIVAVOZ
Service.
Tanara Rosângela Vieira Sousa – Economist, PhD in Applied Economics- Graduate Program in Economics - PPGE/
UFRGS.
Vivian Machado – Medical Resident in Psychiatry at HCPA, Research Assistant at HCPA/UFRGS CPAD.
Vladimir de Andrade Stempliuk – Psychologist, PhD in Sciences by the Medical School of the University of São
Paulo, General Coordinator of the Brazilian Observatory on Drug Information - OBID of the SENAD/GSI/PR.