Driving and riding under the influence of recent marijuana use: Risk factors among a racially diverse sample of young adults

ABSTRACT

Driving (DUIM) and riding (RUIM) with a driver under the influence of marijuana increases crash risk. This study assessed risk factors for DUIM and RUIM among ethnically diverse young adults. Randomly selected individuals were surveyed. Multivariable regression was used to assess risk factors associated with DUIM and RUIM. Participants (N = 335, response rate = 34.9%) were 33.7% White non-Hispanic. Reported DUIM and RUIM was not statistically significant by race/ethnicity. Frequency of marijuana use was significantly associated with greater risk of DUIM. Peer marijuana use was associated with greater risk of RUIM. Public health efforts to target social norms around marijuana-impaired driving are warranted.

KEYWORDS:

• Driving
• driving under the influence
• marijuana
• young adults

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Suzanne Rataj and Caitlin Schumann for their assistance with data collection.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Massachusetts Amherst [Grant Number: Internal Funds].