Increasing prevalence of designer benzodiazepines in impaired driving: A 5-year analysis from 2017 to 2021

Abstract

Designer benzodiazepine (DBZD) use has been increasing over the past decade and poses a threat to human health and safety, particularly when involved in driving under the influence of drug (DUID) cases. Over a 5-year period between 2017 and 2021, there were 1,145 reported DBZDs in 805 blood samples submitted from law enforcement agencies for DUID testing. Eleven different DBZDs were detected, including three metabolite pairs: etizolam/alpha-hydroxyetizolam, clonazolam/8-aminoclonazolam, diclazepam/delorazepam, flualprazolam, flubromazolam, flubromazepam, bromazolam and bromazepam. Etizolam/alpha-hydroxyetizolam (n = 485) and flualprazolam (n = 149) were the most frequently detected DBZDs, at 60% and 18%, respectively. Driving behavior, standardized field sobriety test performance and physical observations of individuals suspected of DUIDs, whose blood sample was toxicologically confirmed for one or more DBZDs, were consistent with the effects caused by central nervous system depressants. Each DBZD has its own unique timeline, and toxicology testing had to be frequently updated to reflect the state of the novel psychoactive substance market. DBZDs play a role in impaired driving and can be the sole intoxicant in DUID cases.