Factors associated with psychoactive substance use among professional truck drivers

Abreu, Ângela Maria Mendes; da Costa, Rafaela Maria Figueiredo; Jomar, Rafael Tavares; Portela, Luciana Fernandes · 2022 · DOAJ

DOI: 10.1590/0034-7167-2021-0187

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Summary

This cross-sectional study investigated the sociodemographic, occupational, and health factors associated with the use of psychoactive substances among professional truck drivers in Brazil. The research was motivated by the high vulnerability of this occupational group to traffic accidents and the recognition that substance misuse remains a significant public health issue despite regulatory efforts. Professional truck drivers face irregular schedules, long displacements, and pressure to maintain alertness, creating conditions conducive to substance use. The study aimed to identify specific risk factors to inform occupational health interventions and nursing practices. The study was conducted between January and June 2016 at a major tax station on the Presidente Dutra highway in Rio de Janeiro. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews with 354 male truck drivers holding categories C or E licenses. Researchers used a multidimensional questionnaire to assess exposure variables, including income, education, working hours, insomnia symptoms, and common mental disorders. The outcome variable, risky use of at least one psychoactive substance (alcohol, amphetamines, or cocaine), was measured using the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). Statistical analysis involved bivariate tests and Poisson regression with robust variance to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals, adjusting for multiple variables. The results indicated that 23.4% of participants exhibited risky use of at least one psychoactive substance. Specifically, 66% had moderate to elevated risk for alcohol use, 26% for amphetamines, and 13% for cocaine or crack. Multivariate analysis identified three factors independently associated with increased substance use: lower family income (per capita income ≤ one minimum wage; PR: 2.03; 95%CI: 1.08–3.83), symptoms of insomnia (PR: 2.18; 95%CI: 1.46–3.26), and long working hours (≥13 hours/day; PR: 1.95; 95%CI: 1.30–2.92). Other variables, such as common mental disorders and self-assessed health, showed significant associations in bivariate analyses but did not remain significant in the final multivariate model. The findings highlight that a combination of socioeconomic, occupational, and health variables contributes to psychoactive substance use among truck drivers. The strong association with insomnia and long working hours suggests that drivers may use substances to counteract fatigue and meet demanding work schedules. The link with lower income points to broader socioeconomic vulnerabilities. These results underscore the need for targeted occupational health policies, including stricter enforcement of working hour limits and improved access to sleep health interventions. The study concludes that addressing these specific risk factors is crucial for reducing substance misuse and enhancing road safety for this high-risk professional group.

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• truck driver fatigue