The prevention of repeated driving while intoxicated: the opinion of narcologists on the effectiveness of indicators for assessing the condition of drivers during mandatory medical examinations

Introduction . Practicing narcologists point to the need to modernize the existing procedure for mandatory medical examination of drivers. The purpose of the study: identification of indicators (parameters) significant for a psychiatrist-narcologist to assess the condition of drivers during a mandatory medical examination related to the restoration of the right to drive a vehicle. Materials and methods . A survey of 120 psychiatrists and narcologists working in narcological dispensaries in Moscow. The results were processed using descriptive statistics methods. Results. Objective methods for diagnosing alcohol abuse are the most effective for a doctor to decide whether a driver is fit to drive a vehicle. The results of the chemical and toxicological examination and the data of the objective medical history are significant. Conclusion . In order to increase the effectiveness of the procedure for assessing the suitability of drivers to drive a vehicle, additional external inspection criteria must be introduced into the Procedure. The fact that a driver who had previously driven a vehicle while intoxicated voluntarily completed thematic preventive rehabilitation programs may become an additional tool for a doctor when making an expert decision based on the results of the mandatory medical examination procedure.