Simultaneous Alcohol/Cannabis Use and Driving Under the Influence in the U.S.

Abstract

Introduction: Alcohol and cannabis are commonly involved in motor vehicle crashes and fatalities.This study examines whether simultaneous use of alcohol/cannabis is associated with higher odds of reporting driving under the influence of alcohol and cannabis in the U.S.Methods: Drivers aged ≥16 years with any past-year alcohol and cannabis use in the 2016−2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (N=34,514) reported any past-year driving under the influence of alcohol-only, cannabis-only, both alcohol/cannabis, or not driving under the influence. Survey-weighted associations between simultaneous alcohol/cannabis use and each of the driving under the influence outcomes were computed adjusting for sociodemographics and daily alcohol/ cannabis use. Analyses were conducted from November 2020 to September 2021. Results:In 2016-2019, 42% of drivers with past-year alcohol and cannabis use reported driving under the influence (8% alcohol-only, 20% cannabis-only, 14% alcohol/cannabis). Simultaneous alcohol/cannabis use was associated with 2.88-times higher adjusted odds of driving under the influence of cannabis-only (95% CI=2.59, 3.19) and 3.51-times higher adjusted odds of driving under the influence of both alcohol/cannabis (95% CI=3.05, 4.05), compared to not driving under the influence. Associations with driving under the influence of alcohol-only were unexpectedly in the opposite direction (adjusted conditional odds ratio=0.59, 95% CI=0.45, 0.79).Conclusions: Overall, 2 in 5 drivers who used alcohol and cannabis reported driving under the influence of alcohol and/or cannabis. People reporting simultaneous alcohol/cannabis use were more likely to report cannabis-related driving under the influence. Prevention strategies should target individuals reporting simultaneous alcohol/cannabis use to reduce the occurrence of driving under the influence.

Feasibility and acceptability of a web-intervention to prevent alcohol and cannabis-impaired driving among adolescents in driver education

“…This is another concerning trend as simultaneous use is associated with an increased likelihood of driving under the in uence or riding with a driver under the in uence [14][15][16]. For example, between 2016 and 2019, 42% of drivers with past-year alcohol and cannabis use reported driving under the in uence (8% alcohol-only, 20% cannabis-only, 14% alcohol/cannabis) [17]. Simultaneous use of cannabis and alcohol is also associated with a greater risk of experiencing cognitive impairment, delays in decision-making, and slower reaction times than driving under the in uence of either substance alone [18,19].…”

Does the co-use of cannabis exacerbate the effect of alcohol on the risk of crashing? A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…There are extensive literatures on the prevalence in the U.S. of the separate and combined use of cannabis and alcohol: for the general population (e.g., Gunn et al, 2022); for drivers on the road (e.g., Goncalves et al, 2022); and for crashed drivers (e.g., Lira et al , 2021). While patterns of co-usage may differ between countries, let us consider the example of seriously and fatally injured drivers in the Australian state of Victoria.…”

Cannabis Recreational Legalization and Prevalence of Simultaneous Cannabis and Alcohol Use in the United States

“…1 Both co-use and simultaneous use are associated with severe consequences in all age groups. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] However, specific age groups seem to be more vulnerable to particular consequences. In adolescents, cannabis/ alcohol co-use is associated with disruptions in brain structure and function, cognitive development, poor cognition, limited educational achievement, and increased risk for psychiatric disorders.…”