Marijuana Impaired Driving in Youth ProjectHow do culture and social norms affect attitudes around marijuana impaired driving in youth?

Brittany BrownMarch 19th, 2013Department of Health and Wellness: Public Health Intern

Agenda Introduction to Presenters Overview of Project

Literature Review – Findings Preliminary Findings of Interviews and

Focus Groups Next Steps and Potential Implications

Presenters Brittany Brown Health Promotion

Student at Dalhousie University

Student Intern at DHW

Moe Green Youth Health

Coordinator at DHW

Overview of ProjectPurpose: To examine why the phenomenon of marijuana impaired driving is on the rise in Nova Scotian youth.

Focus: The influence of culture, such as media, pop culture and social perceptions and norms.

Method: By the review of relevant literature as well as key informant interviews and focus groups.

Guiding Questions

Does culture impact perception of risk? If so, what can be done to shift these

attitudes among our youth?

Literature Review Findings Driving while under the influence of Cannabis (DUIC) is on

the rise among Canadian Youth. Overall in Canada: 15-21% of teens between 16 and 19 have ever

engaged in this behaviour. (1) Now higher than DUIA in Atlantic Canada (2)

Impairs driving in various ways slowing reaction times changing depth perception inability to divide attention, difficulty in reacting to sudden changes concentration and hand eye coordination are all impacted by

marijuana. (3,4)

Literature Review Findings – Con’t DUIC and drug impaired driving in general has not been a focus until

recently (1)

Focus required on developmentally appropriate initiatives. (5)

Although legal consequences are serious, it does not stop youth from engaging in the behaviour (6) Risk / Reward, past experiences of not getting caught (5,7)

Overall community perceptions around marijuana impact the rates of usage among young people. (8,9,10)

Literature Review Findings – Con’t Who is most at risk?

males teens who DUIA new drivers as opposed to those on GDL Caucasian youth poor academic performance frequent users of marijuana and rural youth. (1,3,7,11)

What are the influencers? Peer influences (5) Social norms (6) Parent influences are significant. Modeling behaviour Lack of negative consequences. (7)

Cultural Influences

Music normalizes usage identify with the lyrics and the artist modeling behaviour and promoting positive consequences.

(12,13,14,15,16)

Movies association is not as strong as in music marijuana use in movies continues to grow; interesting to look at

(example: Pineapple Express [2008]). (12)

Internet pro-marijuana sites encourage DUIC behaviour and refute evidence are now prominent.

(12,17)

Literature Review Findings – Con’t Teens believe…

20% of Canadian teens believe the behaviour is safe. (1) that marijuana improves driving skills they are more confident, relaxed and focused (6) they can compensate for impairment (i.e. driving slowly, avoiding

risky behaviours like passing (6) that it is hard to detect marijuana impaired driving and to

subsequently prosecute them (17).

Preliminary Findings – Youth Focus Groups

Actually makes them a better driver Further focus – what happens on the periphery? Calm – drive slower, less risky (natural substance)

Experience in the behaviour = perfection Heavy users think they are no longer impaired

Youth don’t see DUIC as a problem Perceived lack of repercussions (getting caught, legal process, risk of collision) Lack of knowledge (media, among peers) Music and peers identified as key in normalizing behaviour.

Want more media attention, research and education. One time interventions don’t work.

Preliminary Findings – Key Informant Interviews (First 3) We don’t have an overall picture of the issue yet

Overall lack of long-term data Relatively new focus

Contributing factors to the issue Perceived lack of risk of being caught Perceived lack of consequences (crash, injury, death) Role of Peers (incredibly important) Role of Parents (more influential than they believe)

Media / Culture Relaxed view around marijuana Overall lack of knowledge / research around impacts of media and

overarching culture

Where do we go from here? A need for consistent data Emphasize the importance of youth

engagement around the area A need for a consistent message (based on

data) Dispelling common myths Media awareness

Possibility of peer to peer knowledge translation Recognizing and working with parents Media literacy and critical thinking

Next Steps Synthesize and Group Data SSP Completed: April 3rd (includes recommendations

for future action)

SSP Presentation to colleagues: April 10th

Questions? Now, let’s hand it over to our youth panel to discuss the issue further.

References(1)Porath - Waller, A., & Fried, P. (2007). Driving high: Adolescent rates of and attitudes towards marijuana use and driving. In Issues of Substance: Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse National Conference. Retrieved from http://www.issuesofsubstance.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/2007%20IOS%20Documents/poster_driving_high.pdf(2)Asbridge, M., Poulin, C., & Donato, A. (2005). Motor vehicle collision risk and driving under the influence of cannabis. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 37, 1025-1034. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2005.05.006(3)Kelly, E., Darke, S., & Ross, J. (2004). A review of drug use and driving: Epidemiology, impairment, risk. Drug and Alcohol Review, 23, 319-344. doi: 10.1080/09595230412331289482(4) Sewell, R. A., Poling, J., & Sofuoglu, M. (2009). The effect of cannabis compared with alcohol on driving. The American Journal on Addictions, 18, 185-193. (5) Johnson, S. B., & Jones, V. C. (2011). Adolescent development and risk of injury: Using developmental science to improve interventions. Injury Prevention, 17, 50-54.(6) Davey, J., Davies, A., French, N., Williams, C., & Lang, C. P. (2005). Drug driving from a user's perspective. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 12(1), 61-70.(7) Leadbeater, B., Foran, K., & Grove - White, A. (2008). How much can you drink before driving? The influence of riding with impaired adults and peers on the driving behaviors of urban and rural youth. Addiction, 103, 629-637. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02139.x(8) Cerda, M., Wall, M., Keyes, K. M., Galea, S., & Hasin, D. (2012). Medical marijuana laws in 50 states: Investigating the relationship between state legalization of medical marijuana and marijuana use, abuse and dependence. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 120, 22-27

References (Con’t)(9) Friese, B., & Grube, J. W. (2013). Legalization of medical marijuana and marijuana use among youths. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 20(1), 33-39.(10) Keyes, K. M., Schulenberg, J. E., O'Malley, P. M., Johnston, L. D., Bachman, J. G., Li, G., & Hasin, D. (2011). The social norms of birth cohorts and adolescent marijuana use in the United States, 1976-2007. Addiction, 106, 1790-1800.(11) Lewis, T. F., Thombs, D. L., & Olds, R. S. (2005). Profiles of alcohol- and marijuana-impaired adolescent drivers. Addiction Research and Theory, 13(2), 145-154.(12) Primack, B. A., Kraemer, K. L., Fine, M. J., & Dalton, M. A. (2009). Media exposure and marijuana and alcohol use among adolescents. Substance Use & Misuse, 44, 722-739(13) Primack, B., Dalton, M., Carroll, M., Argawal, A., & Fine, M. (2008). Content analysis of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs in popular music. Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine, 162(2), 169-175. doi: 10.1001/archpediatrics.2007.27(14) Christenson, P., Roberts, D. F., & Bjork, N. (2012). Booze, drugs and pop music: Trends in substance portrayals in the Billboard top 100-- 1968-2008. Substance Use & Misuse, 47, 121-129(15) Primack, B. A., Douglas, E. L., & Kraemer, K. L. (2009). Exposure to cannabis in popular music and cannabis use among adolescents. Addiction, 105, 515-523.(16) Mulder, J., Ter Bogt, T., Raaijmakers, Q., Gabhainn, S., Monshouwer, K., & Vollebergh, W. (2010). Is it the music? peers substance use as a mediator of the link between music preferences and adolescent substance use. Journal of Adolescence, 33, 387-394

References (Con’t)(17) Millhorn, M., Monaghan, M., Montero, D., Reyes, M., Roman, T., Tollasken, R., & Walls, B. (2009). North Americans’ attitudes toward illegal drugs. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 19, 125-141. (18) Beirness, D. J., & Porath-Waller, A. J. (2012). Clearing the Smoke on Cannabis (Rep.).