High-'n'-dry? A comparison of cannabis and alcohol use in drivers presenting to hospital after a vehicular collision.
Alcohol
THC
cannabis
motor vehicle collisions
risk factors
tetrahydrocannabinol
Journal
Addiction (Abingdon, England)
ISSN: 1360-0443
Titre abrégé: Addiction
Pays: England
ID NLM: 9304118
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
08 2023
08 2023
Historique:
received:
09
10
2022
accepted:
20
02
2023
medline:
4
7
2023
pubmed:
11
3
2023
entrez:
10
3
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
This was a prospective observational study. The characteristics of cannabis-involved motor vehicle collisions are poorly understood. This study of injured drivers identifies demographic and collision characteristics associated with high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrations. The study was conducted in 15 Canadian trauma centres between January 2018 and December 2021. The cases (n = 6956) comprised injured drivers who required blood testing as part of routine trauma care. We quantified whole blood THC and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and recorded driver sex, age and postal code, time of crash, crash type and injury severity. We defined three driver groups: high THC (THC ≥ 5 ng/ml and BAC = 0), high alcohol (BAC ≥ 0.08% and THC = 0) and THC/BAC-negative (THC = 0 = BAC). We used logistic regression techniques to identify factors associated with group membership. Most injured drivers (70.2%) were THC/BAC-negative; 1274 (18.3%) had THC > 0, including 186 (2.7%) in the high THC group; 1161 (16.7%) had BAC > 0, including 606 (8.7%) in the high BAC group. Males and drivers aged less than 45 years had higher adjusted odds of being in the high THC group (versus the THC/BAC-negative group). Importantly, 4.6% of drivers aged less than 19 years had THC ≥ 5 ng/ml, and drivers aged less than 19 years had higher unadjusted odds of being in the high THC group than drivers aged 45-54 years. Males, drivers aged 19-44 years, rural drivers, seriously injured drivers and drivers injured in single-vehicle, night-time or weekend collisions had higher adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for being in the high alcohol group (versus THC/BAC-negative). Drivers aged less than 35 or more than 65 years and drivers involved in multi-vehicle, daytime or weekday collisions had higher adjusted odds for being in the high THC group (versus the high BAC group). In Canada, risk factors for cannabis-related motor vehicle collisions appear to differ from those for alcohol-related motor vehicle collisions. The collision factors associated with alcohol (single-vehicle, night-time, weekend, rural, serious injury) are not associated with cannabis-related collisions. Demographic factors (young drivers, male drivers) are associated with both alcohol and cannabis-related collisions, but are more strongly associated with cannabis-related collisions.
Sections du résumé
DESIGN
This was a prospective observational study.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
The characteristics of cannabis-involved motor vehicle collisions are poorly understood. This study of injured drivers identifies demographic and collision characteristics associated with high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrations.
SETTING
The study was conducted in 15 Canadian trauma centres between January 2018 and December 2021.
CASES
The cases (n = 6956) comprised injured drivers who required blood testing as part of routine trauma care.
MEASUREMENTS
We quantified whole blood THC and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and recorded driver sex, age and postal code, time of crash, crash type and injury severity. We defined three driver groups: high THC (THC ≥ 5 ng/ml and BAC = 0), high alcohol (BAC ≥ 0.08% and THC = 0) and THC/BAC-negative (THC = 0 = BAC). We used logistic regression techniques to identify factors associated with group membership.
FINDINGS
Most injured drivers (70.2%) were THC/BAC-negative; 1274 (18.3%) had THC > 0, including 186 (2.7%) in the high THC group; 1161 (16.7%) had BAC > 0, including 606 (8.7%) in the high BAC group. Males and drivers aged less than 45 years had higher adjusted odds of being in the high THC group (versus the THC/BAC-negative group). Importantly, 4.6% of drivers aged less than 19 years had THC ≥ 5 ng/ml, and drivers aged less than 19 years had higher unadjusted odds of being in the high THC group than drivers aged 45-54 years. Males, drivers aged 19-44 years, rural drivers, seriously injured drivers and drivers injured in single-vehicle, night-time or weekend collisions had higher adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for being in the high alcohol group (versus THC/BAC-negative). Drivers aged less than 35 or more than 65 years and drivers involved in multi-vehicle, daytime or weekday collisions had higher adjusted odds for being in the high THC group (versus the high BAC group).
CONCLUSIONS
In Canada, risk factors for cannabis-related motor vehicle collisions appear to differ from those for alcohol-related motor vehicle collisions. The collision factors associated with alcohol (single-vehicle, night-time, weekend, rural, serious injury) are not associated with cannabis-related collisions. Demographic factors (young drivers, male drivers) are associated with both alcohol and cannabis-related collisions, but are more strongly associated with cannabis-related collisions.
Substances chimiques
Dronabinol
7J8897W37S
Types de publication
Comparative Study
Journal Article
Observational Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
1507-1516Subventions
Organisme : CIHR
Pays : Canada
Informations de copyright
© 2023 The Authors. Addiction published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society for the Study of Addiction.
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