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Impaired Youth Behind The Wheel Is A Widespread Problem

Auto accidents are a leading cause of death among teens and young adults. A substantial number of these fatalities result from driving after drinking or using drugs. Efforts to reduce driving after drinking have met some success but little is known about the extent of youth driving after use of marijuana or other illicit drugs. The National Study on Drug Use and Health reported in 2002 that 15%-18% of persons 18-21 years old drove after drinking or using illicit drugs in the previous year. Clearly a considerable amount of driving after illicit drug use is occurring. However, little is known about the psychosocial aspects of this driving or riding in the vehicle.

This University of Michigan study found that driving or riding after drinking or using illicit drugs was widespread among US high school seniors. Of seniors in classes 2001-2006 who reported driving under the influence in the prior two weeks, 14.2% had been drinking alcohol while 13.1% had used marijuana. The most striking finding was the sheer numbers of high school seniors who put themselves at this sizeable risk. In 2006 30% of high school seniors reported that during the prior two weeks they had either driven after drinking heavily or using drugs, or ridden in a car in which the driver had been drinking heavily or using illicit drugs.

There is some belief that driving after smoking marijuana is not as dangerous as driving after drinking alcohol. Of note, these researchers found that individuals who reported driving after marijuana use and having an accident in the prior 12 months was just about as frequent as those having accidents after heavy drinking. Variations by population density were not significant and variations by region were not great. Living with both parents seemed to provide some protection while higher socioeconomic status did not. Compared with white students, Hispanics were much less likely to drive after using marijuana while black students were less likely to drive after heavy drinking.

As might be expected, lifestyle factors such as high religiosity, good grades, few absences, and infrequent fun nights out resulted in less risk. The study concluded that impaired driving by youth needs serious attention in spite of some recent progress.

(O’Malley, P, Johnston, L: Drugs and driving by American high school seniors, 2001-2006. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs 68: 834-832,2007)

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