What Makes People Think It's OK to Drive High?
A survey of 2,084 adults found that intentions to drive under the influence of cannabis were shaped by willingness, attitudes, social norms, and perceived control, with intention being a stronger predictor than willingness alone.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Using structural equation modeling, researchers identified that DUIC behavior was predicted by intention (which had a stronger effect than willingness alone), and both were shaped by control beliefs, attitudes, social norms, and perceptions of people who do or don't drive high.
Key Numbers
2,084 adults surveyed; intention had stronger influence on DUIC than willingness alone; DUIC predicted by willingness influencing intention; both shaped by control beliefs, attitudes, norms, and prototype images.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional survey of 2,084 U.S. adults analyzed using structural equation modeling to reveal the belief structure underlying DUIC behavior.
Why This Research Matters
Understanding the psychological drivers behind driving-while-high decisions can help design targeted prevention campaigns that address the specific beliefs, norms, and attitudes that make people willing to drive after using cannabis.
The Bigger Picture
As cannabis legalization expands, the belief systems that normalize driving while high represent a modifiable target for public health intervention, similar to how attitudes toward drunk driving were shifted through decades of messaging campaigns.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design limits causal inference; self-reported DUIC behavior may be underreported; beliefs measured at one time point may not reflect behavior change over time.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would campaigns targeting specific belief components (attitudes vs. norms vs. control beliefs) differ in effectiveness?
- ?Do these belief patterns differ between recreational and medical cannabis users?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Intention was a stronger predictor of driving high than willingness alone
- Evidence Grade:
- Large survey with sophisticated statistical modeling, limited by cross-sectional design and self-report.
- Study Age:
- Data collected from U.S. adults in Washington State.
- Original Title:
- Modeling the system of beliefs that influence driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) in Washington State.
- Published In:
- Accident; analysis and prevention, 151, 105988 (2021)
- Authors:
- Scott, Brandon, Ward, Nicholas, Otto, Jay, Finley, Kari
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03507
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Why do people drive after using cannabis?
This study found that driving-while-high behavior stems from a system of beliefs including attitudes toward the behavior, social norms, perceived control, and the image people hold of those who do or don't drive high.
Can changing beliefs reduce drugged driving?
The study suggests that strategies targeting underlying beliefs about cannabis-impaired driving, particularly attitudes and social norms, could reduce willingness and intention to drive high.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03507APA
Scott, Brandon; Ward, Nicholas; Otto, Jay; Finley, Kari. (2021). Modeling the system of beliefs that influence driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) in Washington State.. Accident; analysis and prevention, 151, 105988. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2021.105988
MLA
Scott, Brandon, et al. "Modeling the system of beliefs that influence driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) in Washington State.." Accident; analysis and prevention, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2021.105988
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Modeling the system of beliefs that influence driving under ..." RTHC-03507. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/scott-2021-modeling-the-system-of
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.