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Combined Alcohol and Cannabis Effects on Skills of Young Drivers
Sponsor: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Summary
Alcohol and cannabis are the two most widely used substances of abuse in the world and are the psychoactive substances most often found in seriously and fatally injured drivers. In a recent study, it was observed that individuals who reported both driving under the influence of alcohol (DUIA) and the influence of cannabis (DUIC) experienced collision risk that was nearly 4 times that of individuals who reported driving after using only one of these drugs. Recent research in the United States and Canada indicates that the prevalence of DUIC among young drivers of high school and university age, and young adults is similar to, or higher than, the prevalence of DUIA. This is a serious public health issue, since motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death in this age group. Given the frequency with which alcohol and cannabis are consumed together, it is important to understand their combined effects on driver behaviour. The current study will examine the acute effects of a moderate dose of cannabis (12.5% THC) combined with an intoxicating amount of alcohol (BAC=0.08) on driving simulator performance of young drivers. Following an eligibility screening and practice session, a total of 70 participants aged 19 to 29 years will each complete 4 experimental sessions. During each session, participants will drink alcohol or placebo alcohol and smoke an active or placebo cannabis cigarette. The effects of alcohol and cannabis on the performance of driving-related skills will be assessed using a high-fidelity driving simulator. Cognitive, psychomotor, and mood effects will also be assessed.
Official title: Effects of Combined Alcohol and Cannabis on Young Drivers' Simulated Driving
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
19 Years - 29 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
49
Start Date
2017-07-04
Completion Date
2020-01-17
Last Updated
2026-07-24
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
alcohol
A single oral administration of an alcoholic beverage mixed in a 1:3 ratio of alcohol to tonic water to obtain a target blood alcohol content of 0.08mg%.
placebo alcohol
A single oral administration of a beverage containing tonic water of the same volume as the alcoholic beverage.
delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol
A single cannabis cigarette (potency 12.5% delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol) will be given to participants to smoke over a 10 minute period, ad libitum. If the cannabis cigarette is not smoked in its entirety, the remainder will be weighed to estimate dose.
placebo delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol
A single placebo cannabis cigarette (\<0.03% delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol) will be given to participants to smoke over a 10 minute period, ad libitum. If the placebo cannabis cigarette is not smoked in its entirety, the remainder will be weighed to estimate dose.
Locations (1)
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Toronto, Ontario, Canada