A review of Canadian programs aimed at reducing youth cannabis-impaired driving found limited evidence they change behavior
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.
Quick Facts
What This Study 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.
Key Numbers
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 They Did This
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.
Why This Research 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 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.
What This Study Doesn't 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.
Questions This Raises
- ?What specific intervention components are most effective at reducing youth DUIC?
- ?How can digital DUIC programs be sustained beyond initial funding cycles?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 15 initiatives, limited behavior change evidence
- Evidence Grade:
- 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.
- Study Age:
- 2025 publication reviewing 2017-2023 initiatives
- Original Title:
- "Stoned on the road": A systematic review of cannabis-impaired driving educational initiatives targeting young drivers in Canada.
- Published In:
- The International journal on drug policy, 142, 104835 (2025)
- Authors:
- Colonna, Robert(4), Pathan, Zuha, Sultania, Anupradi, Alvarez, Liliana
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06245
Evidence Hierarchy
Analyzes all available research on a topic using a structured method.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Did any of the Canadian programs actually reduce cannabis-impaired driving?
Some initiatives increased awareness and influenced perceptions, but the review found limited evidence of actual behavior change. Most programs lacked rigorous outcome evaluation.
What types of programs were identified?
Seven educational programs and eight awareness campaigns using methods including in-person workshops, digital tools, online curricula, and smartphone applications, delivered at both national and regional levels.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06245APA
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
MLA
Colonna, Robert, et al. ""Stoned on the road": A systematic review of cannabis-impaired driving educational initiatives targeting young drivers in Canada.." The International journal on drug policy, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104835
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. ""Stoned on the road": A systematic review of cannabis-impair..." RTHC-06245. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/colonna-2025-stoned-on-the-road
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.