Among U.S. adults, 4.5% reported driving under the influence of cannabis in the past year, but among daily users, the predicted probability jumped to 57%.
Public health professionals, traffic safety researchers, cannabis policy advocates
57% predicted probability of driving under the influence among daily cannabis users
What the researchers found
Using NSDUH data from 128,205 adults, researchers found that 29.5% of cannabis users reported driving under the influence, with daily users showing a 57% predicted probability and those with cannabis use disorder reaching 63.8%.
Why it matters
With cannabis legalization spreading, understanding who drives while high and what risk factors accompany that behavior can help target prevention where it would do the most good.
The numbers in context
128,205 adults surveyed; 4.5% overall DUIC prevalence; state range 3.0% (Texas) to 8.4% (Oregon); 29.5% of cannabis users drove under influence; 57% predicted probability for daily users; 63.8% prevalence among those with CUD.
How the study worked
Cross-sectional analysis of NSDUH public-use data (2016-2018) with multivariate logistic regression examining demographic, psychosocial, and behavioral correlates of cannabis-impaired driving.
What this study cannot tell us
Self-reported data likely underestimates actual DUIC prevalence; cross-sectional design prevents causal conclusions; no objective measures of impairment.
How to read the evidence
Large nationally representative sample with robust statistical methods, though limited by self-report and cross-sectional design.
When this study was published
Data from 2016-2018 NSDUH surveys.
The bigger picture
The strong dose-response relationship between frequency of use and impaired driving suggests that prevention efforts focused specifically on heavy and daily users could have an outsized impact on road safety.
Questions still open
- Do states with legal cannabis have higher crash rates attributable to impaired driving? Would targeted interventions for frequent users reduce DUIC rates?
Common questions
Which states had the highest rates of driving under the influence of cannabis?
What other risky behaviors were linked to driving high?
Read the original research
Prevalence and Correlates of Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis in the U.S.
American journal of preventive medicine, 60(6), e251-e260
Citation
Salas-Wright, Christopher P; Cano, Manuel; Hai, Audrey Hang; Oh, Sehun; Vaughn, Michael G. (2021). Prevalence and Correlates of Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis in the U.S.. American journal of preventive medicine, 60(6), e251-e260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2021.01.021