Pubdate: Fri, 28 Oct 2005
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 The Ottawa Citizen
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Charles Mandel
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?224 (Cannabis and Driving)

TEENS MORE LIKELY TO DRIVE ON DRUGS THAN WHILE DRUNK

Message Of Anti-Drinking Campaigns Failing To Reach Marijuana Users: Study

Education campaigns aimed at drinking and driving may be reaching teens, 
but are less effective when it comes to drug-impaired driving.

A new study finds teens are more likely to drive after smoking marijuana 
than after drinking, according to a recent study of 6,000 Atlantic 
Canadians in Grades 10 and 12.

Fifteen per cent of the 15- and 18-year-olds surveyed drove under the 
influence of cannabis last year, compared to 12 per cent who drove after 
drinking, says a study published in the journal Accident Analysis and 
Prevention.

Drivers who had smoked marijuana were four times more likely to be involved 
in an accident than those who hadn't. The study's results are considered 
accurate within 1.6 percentage points, 99 times out of 100.

"While we seem to be doing a pretty good job of letting young people know 
that alcohol and driving don't mix, they don't seem to be getting the same 
message with respect to other drugs," said Mark Asbridge, co-author of the 
study and an assistant professor in community health and epidemiology at 
Halifax's Dalhousie University.

The study arrives as health agencies and not-for-profit groups are starting 
to put a new emphasis on driving-and-drugs education programs and as the 
federal government's Bill C-16, aimed at amending the Criminal Code on 
drug-impaired driving, is in second reading.

The study, by Mr. Asbridge, Christiane Poulin and Andrea Donato, found the 
students surveyed more commonly drank (62.6 per cent) than smoked marijuana 
(33.6 per cent).

"Consumption of alcohol is still higher than the consumption of cannabis, 
which is really the interesting twist," Mr. Asbridge said. "We can suggest 
that the fact cannabis now succeeds alcohol in terms of driving while 
impaired, based on these adolescents, the message is getting lost somewhere."

While it could be inferred the teens are experiencing more car accidents 
because of marijuana use, Mr. Asbridge said another argument is that those 
who drive under the influence of cannabis also engage in other risky 
behaviours, such as driving without a licence and using fake ID to buy 
liquor, as well as driving after drinking.

"There seems to be small subgroups of kids, typically young males, who are 
all doing all of these behaviours, not necessarily all at the same time," 
Mr. Asbridge said.

The study based its results on teens who smoked marijuana one hour before 
driving. Students who held a licence for more than one year were at 
greatest risk of an accident.

Mr. Asbridge suggested law enforcement agencies, educators and 
organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) are not sending out 
strong enough messages about drugs and driving.

He said MADD "does fantastic work with alcohol, but are only starting to 
get into the drug business."

In the late summer, MADD launched a new campaign targeting drug-impaired 
driving aimed at high school and post-secondary students.

"The drugs are popular with the kids, the marijuana is popular with the 
students, and they do think it's OK to toke and drive. It's quite a concern 
for us." said Karen Dunham, president of MADD.

"We do find a lot of young Canadians just don't get it. If you're high, 
don't drive."

In late November the Canadian Public Health Association will launch its 
Cannabis and Driving Project, a public information campaign aimed at teens 
14 to 18. The campaign will include posters, a website and a discussion 
guide for educators and counsellors.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom