Alcohol and drug use among young adults driving to a drinking location

Abstract

Background Clubs that feature electronic music dance events (EMDEs) draw young adults aged 18 to 34 who are at high-risk for alcohol-related crashes to locations where alcohol sales are the principal source of revenue. Up to 30% of these attendees may also use drugs. This provides an important context in which to study driving arrangements that reflect concern with impaired driving. We explored whether drivers were using less alcohol and fewer drugs at exit than their passengers were and whether a driver for the group ever changed after consuming too much during the evening. Methods Using biological measures of alcohol consumption (breath tests) and drug use (oral fluid tests), 175 drivers and 272 passengers were surveyed among young adults arriving at and departing from EMDEs in San Francisco. Results Upon exit from the drinking locations, only 20% of the drivers, compared to 47% of the passengers, had a high breath alcohol concentration (defined as a BrAC of .05 g/dL or greater). Further, there was evidence that drivers with high BrACs switched to passenger status on exit and former passengers with lower BrACs replaced those drivers. However, there were no differences in the prevalence of drug use among drivers and passengers. Conclusions These findings suggest that the effort by young adult drivers to avoid alcohol-impaired driving appears to be reducing the number of drivers with high BrACs returning from drinking locations, such as EMDEs, by about one third. However, there is no similar pattern for drugged driving.

Clubbing With Familiar Social Groups: Relaxed Vigilance and Implications for Risk

“…This provides the opportunity to collect objective measures of substance use at both entry and exit: breath samples (to test for alcohol) and oral fluid samples (to test for drugs). The Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) has conducted portal survey studies at the border crossing into Tijuana, Mexico (Johnson, 2012;Johnson & Clapp, 2011;Kelley-Baker et al, 2012;Lange et al, 2006aLange et al, , 2006b, and at the entrances to clubs that feature electronic music (e.g., Johnson et al, 2012;Miller et al, 2005Miller et al, , 2009Miller et al, , 2013aVoas et al, 2013).…”

“…Although hosted in legitimate, regulated establishments and part of normal entertainment for diverse patrons, EMDE environments often are the scene of negative behaviors like drinking and driving or riding with an impaired driver Voas et al, 2013) and sexual and physical aggression (Miller et al, 2015). Data from ongoing research show that EMDE patrons are wary about the risks associated with the clubs they attend, with more than 60% reporting at least some concern for their safety.…”

Prevalence of alcohol-impaired drivers based on random breath tests in a roadside survey in Catalonia (Spain)

“…Moreover, it should be noted that drink driving seems to be associated with the non-usage of vehicle safety devices such as seat-belts or crash helmets in the case of motorcyclists (Bergen et al, 2011;Woratanarat et al, 2009). Despite this, Voas et al (2013) found evidence of some precautionary behavior amongst youngsters when leaving a drinking location.…”

Prevalence of Alcohol-Impaired Drivers Based on Random Breath Tests in a Roadside Survey

“…Moreover, it should be noted that drink driving seems to be associated with the non-usage of vehicle safety devices such as seat-belts or crash helmets in the case of motorcyclists (Bergen et al, 2011;Woratanarat et al, 2009). Despite this, Voas et al (2013) found evidence of some precautionary behavior amongst youngsters when leaving a drinking location.…”

“…Voas et al (2013) point out that drivers with a high BAC level switched to passenger status and were replaced by former passengers with lower levels as a means to avoid alcohol-impaired driving.…”