Detection of ketamine in the oral fluid of drivers in northeastern France during the years 2020-2023.
Laïyna Lilo Aouichi, Elise Pape, Jean-Yves Jouzeau, Valérie Gibaja, Eyrian Aubin-Beale, Allan Kolodziej, Catherine Feliu, Elodie Marchand, Nicolas Gambier, Julien Scala-Bertola
Fundamental & clinical pharmacology April 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1111/fcp.13060 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAbout 2.6% of drivers who tested positive for drugs in roadside checks in northeastern France over 32 months (2020–2023) had ketamine in their oral fluid. Among 88 ketamine-positive drivers, 80.7% were male, 95.4% used multiple drugs, and their average age was 27.5 years. Ketamine concentrations averaged 821 ng/mL when norketamine was also present and 7.8 ng/mL when it was absent. Roughly 26% of ketamine-positive drivers had oral fluid levels potentially linked to impaired driving. The authors suggest adding ketamine and norketamine to routine oral fluid drug testing for driving under the influence.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Retrospective descriptive study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 3,364 |
| Population | Drivers who tested positive to the DrugWipe®5S saliva test in roadside checks in northeastern France |
| Duration | 32-month period in 2020-2023 |
| Topics | Addiction Ketamine |
| Keywords | Drug abuse Drug testing Oral fluid Ketamine abuse |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key finding | Ketamine was detected in 2.6% of drug-positive drivers, and 26.1% of those had oral fluid concentrations potentially associated with impaired driving. |
Abstract
Ketamine is a psychoactive substance used for its stimulant and hallucinogenic properties. As the use of ketamine may lead to impaired driving, we aimed to assess the occurrence of ketamine in the driving population tested positive for narcotics in roadside checks using oral fluid analysis. Oral fluid concentrations of ketamine and norketamine were examined to determine the percentage of drivers susceptible to ketamine impairment. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted over a 32-month period in 2020-2023 on drivers who tested positive to the DrugWipe®5S saliva test in our region of northeastern France. Mass spectrometry was used to confirm the DrugWipe®5S result and to determine oral fluid concentrations of ketamine and norketamine. During the entire study period, 3364 drivers were tested positive at the roadside using the DrugWipe®5S rapid test. After mass spectrometry, 3043 drivers were finally confirmed as true positives. Ketamine was detected in 88 drivers who were 80.7% male, 95.4% polydrug users and were 27.5 ± 7.1 years old, representing 2.6% of the total driver population. Ketamine concentrations were 821 ± 2264 and 7.8 ± 12.3 ng/mL in the presence and absence of norketamine, respectively. Finally, 26.1% of the ketamine-positive drivers had a ketamine oral fluid concentration potentially associated with impaired driving. Ketamine and norketamine should be added to the list of drugs to be tested in oral fluid for driving under the influence of drugs. Besides blood or urine, oral fluid could be an interesting alternative biological matrix for addiction medicine.