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Drug and Driving: A Compendium of Research Studies
Annotated Sources (cont'd)
Canada
19. Adlaf, E.M., Mann, R.E. and Paglia, A. (2003). Drinking, cannabis use and driving among Ontario students. Canadian Medical Association Journal 168: 565-566.
Overview
Self-report survey of drug use and driving among Ontario students
Type of study, population(s) and proportion tested
- 1,846 students in grades 7 to 13 in Ontario
- 1,119 students in grades 10 to 13 with a driver’s licence
- 508 students in grades 10 to 13 with a driver’s licence
Drugs examined (threshold values for detection)
Method of testing and medium used
Ontario Students Drug Use Survey -- self-report survey
- How often in the past 12 months have you ridden in a vehicle with a drinking driver?
- How often in the past 12 months have you driven with one hour of having two or more drinks?
- How often in the past 12 months have you driven within an hour of using marijuana?
Other dependent variables
Findings (including statistical methods)
- 31.9% -- increased with grade (17.5% in grade 7; 43.4% in grade 13)
- 15.1% -- 20% male 8.9% female -- higher among those in grades 12 and 13
- 19.7% drove after using marijuana -- 24.5% among males; 13.7% females
20. Beirness, D.J., Simpson, H.M. and Desmond, K. (2003). The Road Safety Monitor2002. Drugs and Driving. Ottawa: Traffic Injury Research Foundation.
Overview
Telephone survey of drug use and driving among population of Canadian drivers
Type of study, population(s) and proportion tested
N=1,214 Canadian drivers age 16+
Random telephone survey
Drugs examined (threshold values for detection)
Method of testing and medium used
Self-reported use and driving
Other dependent variables
Driving after drinking
Findings (including statistical methods)
Males under 30 most likely to drive after drug use
One-third of those reporting driving after cannabis also reported driving after drinking
21. Beirness, D.J., Simpson, H.M. and Desmond, K. (2004). The Road Safety Monitor 2004. Drinking and Driving. Ottawa: Traffic Injury Research Foundation.
Overview
Telephone survey of drug use and driving among population of Canadian drivers
Type of study, population(s) and proportion tested
N=1,214 Canadian drivers age 16+
Random telephone survey
Drugs examined (threshold values for detection)
Method of testing and medium used
Self-report
Other dependent variables
Findings (including statistical methods)
2.1% reported driving after using cannabis
Increase from 1.5% two years ago
44% also reported driving after drinking
Most common among males < 30 years of age
22. Boase, P., Dawson, N. and Mann, R. (2004) Cannabis and road safety in Canada: Summary of information on cannabis found in drivers & recent legislative developments. In: J. Oliver, P. Williams and A. Clayton (Eds.) Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (CD). Glasgow: Scottish Executive.
Overview
Review of cannabis use and driving in Canada
Type of study, population(s) and proportion tested
Various
Review of survey literature
Drugs examined (threshold values for detection)
Method of testing and medium used
Self reported cannabis use
Self reported driving after cannabis use
Other dependent variables
Findings (including statistical methods)
Prevalence of use has increased
Prevalence of driving after cannabis use currently 1.9% to 2.1%
Higher among students and appears to be increasing
23. Bramness, J. G., Skurtveit, S., and Mørland, J. (2002) Clinical impairment of benzodiazepines – Relation between benzodiazepine concentration and impairment in apprehended drivers. In D. R. Mayhew and C. Dussault (Eds.) Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety. Quebec: Société de l’Assurance Automobile du Québec.
Overview
Assessment of clinical impairment of benzodiazepine positive drivers in Norway
Type of study, population(s) and proportion tested
Drivers, suspected of driving under the influence between 1987 and 1998, positive for only one benzodiazepine (n=818)
Comparison group of drivers positive only for alcohol in 1987 (n=10,759)
Drugs examined (threshold values for detection)
Method of testing and medium used
Blood samples
Clinical Test for Drunkenness (CTD)
Other dependent variables
Findings (including statistical methods)
Within the benzodiazepine group, 81% were "impaired"
"Impaired" drivers had significantly higher concentrations of diazepam and oxazepam
Within the alcohol group, 91% were "impaired"
OR for being determined "impaired" significantly rose as dose increased from therapeutic to mildly elevated (1.6), to moderately elevated (3.7), to highly elevated (4.1)
Same trend is true for alcohol group, though a greater OR was found for the highly elevated dose (10.5)
