Among young adults in Washington State, self-reported driving under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, or both showed no significant change from pre-pandemic trends through 2021, with about 12% reporting cannabis-impaired driving.
Traffic safety researchers, public health officials, and young adult prevention program developers
12.5% reported driving under the influence of cannabis
What the researchers found
Pre-pandemic trends in DUI prevalence and pandemic-year deviations were both small and not statistically significant. However, absolute prevalence remained concerning: 12.0% reported driving under the influence of alcohol, 12.5% under cannabis, and 2.7% under both simultaneously. College students showed a relative increase in alcohol-impaired driving during 2020.
Why it matters
Despite major disruptions to daily life during COVID-19, young adults continued to drive impaired at alarming rates, suggesting these behaviors are deeply entrenched and resistant to circumstantial changes.
The numbers in context
12.0% DUI-alcohol; 12.5% DUI-cannabis; 2.7% DUI-both; no significant pandemic-related changes in trends; college students showed relative increase in alcohol DUI during 2020
How the study worked
Annual statewide data from the Washington Young Adult Health Survey (2016-2021) analyzed with logistic regression to assess DUI behaviors and pandemic-related deviations from pre-pandemic trends.
What this study cannot tell us
Self-reported DUI may underestimate true prevalence; Washington State results may not generalize nationally; annual cross-sectional design limits individual-level trend analysis; short pandemic period for trend detection
How to read the evidence
Statewide annual survey data with appropriate statistical methods, but self-reported DUI and single-state focus.
When this study was published
2024 publication with 2016-2021 data
The bigger picture
Vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death for young adults. The persistence of high DUI rates through a pandemic that reduced driving overall underscores the need for sustained prevention efforts.
Questions still open
- Why did DUI rates remain stable despite reduced driving during the pandemic? Would ride-sharing services, which declined during COVID, have otherwise helped reduce DUI?
Common questions
Did the pandemic change cannabis-impaired driving rates?
How common was driving under both alcohol and cannabis?
Read the original research
Trends in Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Cannabis Among Young Adults in Washington State From Before to During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
American journal of public health, 114(S8), S698-S701
Citation
Hultgren, Brittney A; Calhoun, Brian H; Fleming, Charles B; Rhew, Isaac C; Larimer, Mary E; Kilmer, Jason R; Guttmannova, Katarina. (2024). Trends in Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Cannabis Among Young Adults in Washington State From Before to During the COVID-19 Pandemic.. American journal of public health, 114(S8), S698-S701. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307767