Cannabis Effects on Driving-related Skills of Young Drivers

Summary

Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for young people. The investigators have recently found that driving after using cannabis is more common among young Canadian drivers than driving after drinking. While this observation raises concerns, the effects of cannabis on driving-related skills in this age group are not well understood. As well, evidence suggests that residual effects of cannabis on driving-related skills may be observed up to 24 hours later. These residual effects may have important implications for the effects of cannabis use on collision risk, but little evidence on them in available. This study will examine the effects of a single dose of cannabis (marijuana) on driving-related skills immediately following consumption, 24 hours later, and 48 hours later. To date, the residual effect at 48 hours has not been examined. A total of 142 subjects aged 19 to 25 years old will be randomly assigned to smoke either a placebo or active cannabis cigarette (12.5% THC potency). Following an eligibility screening and practice session, participants will attend 3 testing days; drug-administration, 24-hour follow-up and 48-hour follow-up. The effects of cannabis/placebo on performance of driving-related skills using a high-fidelity driving simulator will be assessed on each testing day. The effects of cannabis on mood, cognition, memory and complex reaction time will also be assessed. Identifying factors that affect the collision risks experienced by young drivers is a public health priority. While many young people believe that cannabis does not impair driving, some recent studies suggest that these may be very dangerous beliefs. This study will provide important information on how cannabis may affect the driving skills of young drivers, to inform efforts to understand and address cannabis-related collision in this age group.

Timeline

Start

2012-07

Primary completion

2016-08

Completion

2016-09

Publications

• Background Adlaf EM, Begin P, Sawka E. Canadian Addiction Survey (CAS): A national survey of Canadians' use of alcohol and other drugs: Prevalence of use and related harms: Detailed report. Ottawa, Canada: Canadian Cenre for Substance Abuse 2005
• Background Johnston LD, O'Malley PM, Backman JG, Schulenber JE. Monitoring the future: National results on adolescent drug use. Bethesda, MD.: National Institute on Drug Abuse 2009
• Background WHO - Programme on substance abuse. Cannabis: a health perspective and research agenda: World Health Organization 1997.
• Background Chipman ML, Macdonald S, Mann RE. Being "at fault" in traffic crashes: does alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, or polydrug abuse make a difference? Inj Prev. 2003 Dec;9(4):343-8. doi: 10.1136/ip.9.4.343.
• Background Brault M, Dussault C, Bouchard J, Lemire AM. The contribution of alcohol and other drugs among fatally injured drivers in Quebec: final results. Société de l'assurance automobile du Quebec 2002. Available from: http://www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/publications/dossiers_etudes/drogue_an.pdf
• Background Laumon B, Gadegbeku B, Martin JL, Biecheler MB; SAM Group. Cannabis intoxication and fatal road crashes in France: population based case-control study. BMJ. 2005 Dec 10;331(7529):1371. doi: 10.1136/bmj.38648.617986.1F. Epub 2005 Dec 1.
• Background Siliquini R, Chiado Piat S, Gianino MM, Renga G. Drivers involved in road traffic accidents in Piedmont Region: psychoactive substances consumption. J Prev Med Hyg. 2007 Dec;48(4):123-8.
• Background Stoduto G, Vingilis E, Kapur BM, Sheu WJ, McLellan BA, Liban CB. Alcohol and drug use among motor vehicle collision victims admitted to a regional trauma unit: demographic, injury, and crash characteristics. Accid Anal Prev. 1993 Aug;25(4):411-20. doi: 10.1016/0001-4575(93)90070-d.
• Background Drummer OH, Gerostamoulos J, Batziris H, Chu M, Caplehorn J, Robertson MD, Swann P. The involvement of drugs in drivers of motor vehicles killed in Australian road traffic crashes. Accid Anal Prev. 2004 Mar;36(2):239-48. doi: 10.1016/s0001-4575(02)00153-7.
• Background Lacey JH, Kelley-Baker T, Furr-Holden D, Voas RB, Romano E, Ramirez A, et al. 2007 National roadside survey of alcohol and drug use by drivers: Drug results. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2009.
• Background Blows S, Ivers RQ, Connor J, Ameratunga S, Woodward M, Norton R. Marijuana use and car crash injury. Addiction. 2005 May;100(5):605-11. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2005.01100.x.
• Background Asbridge M, Poulin C, Donato A. Motor vehicle collision risk and driving under the influence of cannabis: evidence from adolescents in Atlantic Canada. Accid Anal Prev. 2005 Nov;37(6):1025-34. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2005.05.006. Epub 2005 Jun 29.
• Background Adlaf EM, Mann RE, Paglia A. Drinking, cannabis use and driving among Ontario students. CMAJ. 2003 Mar 4;168(5):565-6.
• Background Fischer B, Rodopoulos J, Rehm J, Ivsins A. Toking and driving: Characteristics of Canadian university students who drive after cannabis use - an exploratory pilot study. Drugs Ed Prev Policy 13:179-87, 2006
• Background O'Malley PM, Johnston LD. Drugs and driving by American high school seniors, 2001-2006. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2007 Nov;68(6):834-42. doi: 10.15288/jsad.2007.68.834.
• Background McGuire F, Dawe M, Shield KD, Rehm J, Fishcher B. Driving under the influence of cannabis or alcohol in a cohort of high-frequency cannabis users: prevalence and reflections on current interventions. Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice 53(2): 247-259, 2011
• Background Pope HG Jr, Gruber AJ, Yurgelun-Todd D. The residual neuropsychological effects of cannabis: the current status of research. Drug Alcohol Depend. 1995 Apr;38(1):25-34. doi: 10.1016/0376-8716(95)01097-i.
• Background Heishman SJ, Huestis MA, Henningfield JE, Cone EJ. Acute and residual effects of marijuana: profiles of plasma THC levels, physiological, subjective, and performance measures. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1990 Nov;37(3):561-5. doi: 10.1016/0091-3057(90)90028-g.
• Background Smiley A. Marijuana: On-road and driving simulator studies. Alcohol, Drugs, and Driving. 2:121-34, 1986
• Background Crancer A Jr, Dille JM, Delay JC, Wallace JE, Haykin MD. Comparison of the effects of marihuana and alcohol on simulated driving performance. Science. 1969 May 16;164(3881):851-4. doi: 10.1126/science.164.3881.851.
• Background Cone EJ, Huestis MA. Relating blood concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol and metabolites to pharmacologic effects and time of marijuana usage. Ther Drug Monit. 1993 Dec;15(6):527-32. doi: 10.1097/00007691-199312000-00013.
• Background Harder S, Rietbrock S. Concentration-effect relationship of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabiol and prediction of psychotropic effects after smoking marijuana. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1997 Apr;35(4):155-9.
• Background McLaren J, Swift W, Dillon P, Allsop S. Cannabis potency and contamination: a review of the literature. Addiction. 2008 Jul;103(7):1100-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02230.x. Epub 2008 May 20.

Drugs

Indications

No indication recorded.