In a nationally representative US sample, 6.3% of drivers aged 16-20 reported driving after cannabis use, compared to 2.6% for alcohol, with nearly one in four past-year cannabis users (24.5%) reporting impaired driving.
Traffic safety researchers, public health officials, driving educators, parents of young drivers.
Cannabis DUI is 2.4x more common than alcohol DUI among US drivers aged 16-20
What the researchers found
DUI-cannabis prevalence was 6.3% in the full sample and 24.5% among past-year cannabis users. DUI-alcohol was 2.6% overall and 6.1% among past-year alcohol consumers. Risk was elevated among older and male youth for both substances. More than one million young drivers per year are estimated to drive after using cannabis and/or alcohol.
Why it matters
Cannabis-impaired driving among underage drivers is more than twice as prevalent as alcohol-impaired driving in this age group. This challenges the traditional focus on alcohol-impaired driving prevention among young people.
The numbers in context
N=12,863 drivers ages 16-20. DUI-cannabis: 6.3% overall, 24.5% among users. DUI-alcohol: 2.6% overall, 6.1% among drinkers. Estimated 1+ million young DUI drivers per year.
How the study worked
Cross-sectional analysis of 2020-2021 NSDUH data for drivers ages 16-20 (N=12,863). Survey-adjusted prevalence estimates and logistic regression weighted for stratified cluster sampling.
What this study cannot tell us
Self-reported DUI likely underestimates true prevalence. Cross-sectional design. 2020-2021 data may reflect pandemic-related changes in driving patterns. Cannot assess actual impairment level or crash risk from survey data.
How to read the evidence
Nationally representative NSDUH data with appropriate survey weighting. Self-reported measure limits precision but provides reliable population estimates.
When this study was published
Published in 2023 using 2020-2021 NSDUH data.
The bigger picture
The higher rate of cannabis DUI compared to alcohol DUI among young drivers reflects both the normalization of cannabis use and perhaps a lower perceived risk of driving while high compared to driving drunk. This perception gap may be especially dangerous.
Questions still open
- Do young drivers perceive cannabis-impaired driving as less risky than alcohol-impaired driving?
- Would combining cannabis DUI education with alcohol DUI prevention programs be more effective?
Common questions
How common is driving high among young people?
Is cannabis DUI more common than alcohol DUI among teens?
Read the original research
Driving under the influence of cannabis and alcohol: Evidence from a national sample of young drivers.
Addictive behaviors, 147, 107816
Citation
Salas-Wright, Christopher P; Hai, Audrey Hang; Vaughn, Michael G; Hodges, James C; Goings, Trenette Clark. (2023). Driving under the influence of cannabis and alcohol: Evidence from a national sample of young drivers.. Addictive behaviors, 147, 107816. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107816