Citation

Bonar EE, Arterberry BJ, Davis AK, Cunningham RM, Blow FC, Collins RL, Walton MAL. Addict. Behav. 2018; 78: 80-84.

Affiliation

University of Michigan Addiction Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan School of Medicine, 4250 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; University of Michigan Injury Center, University of Michigan School of Medicine, 2800 Plymouth Road, NCRC10-G080, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.11.002

PMID

29128710

PMCID

PMC5783773

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Drugged driving [DD] is a public health concern, particularly among emerging adults who have the highest rates of drug use. Understanding involvement with DD could inform prevention efforts for this population. We evaluated the prevalence of, motives for, and correlates of past-year DD among emerging adults from an urban, under-resourced community.

METHODS: Emerging adults (N=586) ages 18-25years (54% male, 56% African American, 34% European American) seeking care in an urban emergency department completed past-year surveys of demographics, frequency of DD within 4h of substance use, reasons for DD, and substance use.

RESULTS: DD was reported by 24% of participants (with 25% of those engaging in high frequency DD). DD after cannabis use was most common (96%), followed by prescription opioids, sedatives, and stimulants (9%-19%). Common reasons for DD were: needing to go home (67%), not thinking drugs affected driving ability (44%), not having to drive far (33%), and not feeling high (32%). Demographics were not associated with DD, but, as expected, those with DD had riskier substance use.

CONCLUSIONS: In this clinical sample, using a conservative measure, DD, particularly following cannabis use, was relatively common among emerging adults. Based on these data, clinical interventions for cannabis and other drug use should include content on prevention of DD, with particular attention to motives such as planning ahead for alternatives to get home safely and weighing benefits and risks of DD.


Keywords: Cannabis impaired driving


Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Drug use; Emerging adults; Impaired driving