Alcohol remained the most frequently detected intoxicant in drivers and the median alcohol level in blood was 156mg/100ml and in urine was 197mg/100ml when specimens with no trace of alcohol were excluded. Alcohol intoxicated driving therefore remains a very significant danger on Irish roads.

Of the 4,321 specimens tested for drugs in 2021, 3,412 were found to be positive for at least one drug class on preliminary laboratory drug testing, while 909 (21%) were negative for the drugs targeted by the Bureau at the thresholds used. This drug positive figure represented 79% of toxicology specimens and 58% of all specimens received in the Bureau. For drug intoxicants other than alcohol the three most commonly detected drugs were cannabis, cocaine and benzodiazepines. The prevalence of combinations of drugs and of drugs with alcohol continued to be of concern. The mean level of Δ 9 -Tetrahydrocannabinol (Cannabis) confirmed in specimens analysed was 6.0ng/ml in 2021. The 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (Cannabis) level was 58.8ng/ml for 2021. The legal limits for these drugs are 1ng/ml and 5ng/ml respectively.