Risk factors associated with driving after marijuana use among West Virginia college students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to assess sociodemographic and behavioral risk factors associated with driving after marijuana use (DAMU) among West Virginia college students.

Methods

Participants were recruited from West Virginia University between September and November 2022. The study sample was restricted to students who were ≥18 years of age; reported recently driving; possessed a current, valid driver’s license from any US state; and were enrolled for at least one credit hour in the Fall 2022 semester.

Results

Among respondents (N = 772), 28.9% reported DAMU. Students who had a GPA of B (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06–4.42), smoked or ingested marijuana in the past year (AOR: 26.51, 95% CI: 10.27–68.39), drove after drinking (AOR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.18–4.79), and used both marijuana and alcohol concurrently and then drove (AOR: 10.39, 95% CI: 2.32–46.54) associated with DAMU. Individuals who felt the behavior was somewhat dangerous or not dangerous or thought their peers approved of DAMU showed significant associations with DAMU.

Conclusions

As DAMU was prevalent, future interventions that raise awareness of the danger and potential consequences of DAMU may be needed to reduce this risky behavior on college campuses.

Keywords:

• Driving after marijuana use
• college students
• COVID-19
• transportation safety
• public health

Acknowledgement

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Author contributions

The authors confirm contribution to the paper as follows: study conception and design: YT and TMR; data collection: YT; analysis and interpretation of results: YT and TMR; draft manuscript preparation: YT, CGA, CLL, ELW, and TMR. All authors reviewed the results and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, YT, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.