Fifteen Canadian initiatives targeting youth cannabis-impaired driving were identified, but while some raised awareness, evidence of actual behavior change was limited and long-term sustainability was a challenge.
Public health officials, drug policy researchers, and educators developing cannabis-impaired driving prevention programs.
15 initiatives, limited behavior change evidence
What the researchers found
Fifteen Canadian DUIC initiatives were found: seven educational programs and eight awareness campaigns spanning national and regional levels. Some increased awareness and shifted perceptions, but evidence of behavior change was limited. Sustainability challenges related to funding and digital platform maintenance were noted.
Why it matters
Canada legalized recreational cannabis nationally in 2018, making youth DUIC prevention a policy priority. Knowing which educational approaches work and which do not helps allocate prevention resources more effectively.
The numbers in context
15 initiatives identified: 7 educational programs, 8 awareness campaigns. Methods included in-person workshops, digital tools, online programs, and smartphone apps. Target age: 16 to 24.
How the study worked
Systematic review searching MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, SCOPUS, and EMBASE (January 2017 to July 2023) plus grey literature for Canadian initiatives targeting driving under the influence of cannabis among youth ages 16 to 24.
What this study cannot tell us
Grey literature inclusion adds breadth but variable quality. Limited evidence of behavioral outcomes makes it difficult to rank initiatives by effectiveness. Only Canadian initiatives were included.
How to read the evidence
Systematic review with comprehensive search strategy, but the underlying evidence base for the identified initiatives was largely limited to awareness outcomes rather than behavioral measures.
When this study was published
2025 publication reviewing 2017-2023 initiatives
The bigger picture
Despite Canada being a global pioneer in cannabis legalization, the review reveals a gap between the number of prevention initiatives and evidence that they actually reduce impaired driving. This mirrors challenges in alcohol-impaired driving prevention.
Questions still open
- What specific intervention components are most effective at reducing youth DUIC? How can digital DUIC programs be sustained beyond initial funding cycles?
Common questions
Did any of the Canadian programs actually reduce cannabis-impaired driving?
What types of programs were identified?
Read the original research
"Stoned on the road": A systematic review of cannabis-impaired driving educational initiatives targeting young drivers in Canada.
The International journal on drug policy, 142, 104835
Citation
Colonna, Robert; Pathan, Zuha; Sultania, Anupradi; Alvarez, Liliana. (2025). "Stoned on the road": A systematic review of cannabis-impaired driving educational initiatives targeting young drivers in Canada.. The International journal on drug policy, 142, 104835. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104835