Pubdate: Fri, 28 Oct 2005
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 Calgary Herald
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Charles Mandel, CanWest News Service
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?224 (Cannabis and Driving)

TEEN DRUG-IMPAIRED DRIVING ON THE RISE, STUDY FINDS

Toking Youth Not Getting The Message

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 respects 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 just 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 
Asbridge with Christiane Poulin and Andrea Donato, found the students 
surveyed more commonly drank (62.6 per cent) than toked (33.6 per cent).

"Consumption of alcohol is still higher than the consumption of cannabis, 
which is really the interesting twist," 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 kids are experiencing more car accidents 
because of marijuana use, Asbridge said another argument is that kids 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 
liquour, as well as driving after drinking.

The study based its results on teens who toked one hour before driving. 
Students who held a licence for more than one year were at greatest risk 
for an accident. Asbridge suggested law enforcement agencies, educators and 
organizations such as 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."

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 
aged 14 to 18.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom