Pubdate: Fri, 28 Oct 2005
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2005 Southam Inc.
Contact:  http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Charles Mandel, CanWest News Service

MARIJUANA MESSAGE PASSING YOUNG MOTORISTS BY, SURVEY FINDS

15% Of Youngsters Surveyed For Study 'Toked' And Drove

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 with 12% 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 had not. 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 Mr. Asbridge with Christiane Poulin and Andrea Donato, 
found the students surveyed more commonly drank (62.6%) than toked (33.6%).

"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 kids are experiencing more car 
accidents because of marijuana use, Mr. 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 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 toked one hour before 
driving. Students who held a licence for more than one year were at 
greatest risk for an accident.

Mr. 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."

In the late summer, MADD launched a 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 okay 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 campaign aimed at teens age 14 to 18.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman