Driving under the influence of cannabis versus alcohol: A mixed-methods study examining perceptions and related risk behaviors among US and Israeli adults

Cassidy R. LoParco, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA. Electronic address: cassidy.loparco@email.gwu.edu.
Yuxian Cui, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA. Electronic address: ycui15@gwmail.gwu.edu.
Yael Bar-Zeev, Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address: Yael.Bar-Zeev@mail.huji.ac.il.
Hagai Levine, Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel.
Zongshuan Duan, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA. Electronic address: zduan3@email.gwu.edu.
Yan Wang, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA. Electronic address: yanwang20@email.gwu.edu.
Lorien C. Abroms, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA. Electronic address: lorien@gwu.edu.
Amal Khayat, Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address: amal.khayat@mail.huji.ac.il.
Y Tony Yang, School of Nursing, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA. Electronic address: ytyang@gwu.edu.
Carla J. Berg, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA. Electronic address: carlaberg@gwu.edu.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

8-29-2023

Journal

Addictive behaviors

Volume

148

DOI

10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107843

Keywords

Driving under the influence; Drugged driving; Drunk driving; Perceived risk; Riding with a drugged driver; Riding with a drunk driver

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite the dangers of driving under the influence (DUI), little is known about DUI substance-specific risk perceptions or risk factors for riding with drunk/drugged drivers (RDD). METHODS: In this sequential exploratory mixed-methods study, we conducted: 1) multivariable analyses of cross-sectional survey data from 2222 US and Israeli adults to identify correlates of perceived cannabis- vs. alcohol-related DUI risks (linear regression) and past-month RDD involving alcohol-only, cannabis-only, or both (alcohol-cannabis) (multinomial logistic regression); and 2) deductive-inductive thematic analyses of qualitative interview data from 84 participants to identify themes elaborating on survey findings regarding DUI-related risk perceptions. RESULTS: 54.0 % reported past-month alcohol use, 16.7 % cannabis use, 4.2 % alcohol-only RDD, 5.5 % cannabis-only RDD, and 7.9 % alcohol-cannabis RDD. Being from the US, not having children at home, and cannabis non-use correlated with lower perceived cannabis vs. alcohol DUI risk. Lower perceived cannabis vs. alcohol DUI risk correlated with cannabis-only and alcohol-cannabis (vs. no) RDD, and with alcohol-cannabis (vs. cannabis-only) RDD. Alcohol use correlated with alcohol-only (vs. no) RDD and alcohol-cannabis (vs. cannabis-only) RDD. Cannabis use correlated with cannabis-only and alcohol-cannabis (vs. no) RDD, and with alcohol-cannabis (vs. alcohol-only) RDD. Being from the US correlated with alcohol-only (vs. alcohol-cannabis and none) RDD and cannabis-only (vs. alcohol-cannabis) RDD; being from Israel correlated with alcohol-cannabis (vs. no) RDD. Qualitative data indicated most participants perceived greater risk of DUI of alcohol vs. cannabis and desired more effective DUI-related prevention and regulatory efforts. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention interventions targeting DUI- and RDD-related risk perceptions are needed, particularly for high-risk populations.

Department

Prevention and Community Health

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