Citation

Bramness JG. Addiction 2012; 107(10): 1845-1846.

Affiliation

Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. j.g.bramness@medisin.uio.no

Comment On:

Addiction 2012;107(10):1837-44.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.03949.x

PMID

22962959

Abstract

The number of road traffic accidents and road deaths is increasing. Each year, as many as 1.3 million deaths worldwide are caused by such accidents and it is the leading cause of death among persons aged 15–29 years old 1. The World Health Organization estimates that over the next two decades, road traffic accidents will move to fifth place in the world's leading causes of death (and will be even higher in developing countries). The mere size of the problem makes efforts to prevent these accidents imperative.

Intoxicated driving may be responsible for as many as 25% of traffic accidents 2. Even if alcohol intoxication accounts for a large share of this, it is important to acknowledge the very important contribution made by cannabis impairment. The use of cannabis is quite high in many parts of the world 3 and several other factors may also increase the problem. Marijuana is probably becoming more potent 4, and decriminalization and more liberal policies towards the use of cannabis may also increase the use of the drugs—even if this is under debate 3. The same may be true for the medical use of cannabis, be it through medical marijuana, cannabis extracts or synthetic cannabinoids. The latter are also important through their possible use in ‘legal highs’ or what is known as ‘spice’.

The bulk of scientific evidence shows that cannabis increases the risk of being psychomotor‐impaired in a way that influences the ability to drive a motor vehicle 5-8. This includes several pivotal scientific reports from the group of Jan Ramaekers 9-12 whose research is performed to the highest standards 13. Earlier, there was some dispute over whether cannabis caused an increased risk of traffic accidents 14; however, a recent, well‐performed meta‐analysis documents that acute use of cannabis will lead to an increased risk of being involved in traffic accidents, particularly fatal ones ...

Keywords: Cannabis impaired driving; DUID; Ethanol impaired driving

Language: en