The Problem of The Problem of Youth Drugged Youth Drugged Driving:Driving:Approaches to Approaches to PreventionPrevention

Erin Holmes, M.A.Research Scientist

Traffic Injury Research FoundationRADD-ONDCP Teen DUID Summit

July 11th, 2014, Columbus, OH

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> In Canada, between 2000 and 2010, the number of fatally injured drivers ages 16-19 who had drugs (illicit and prescription) in their system rose from 23.6% to 39.2% (Brown et al. 2013).

> The percentage of fatally injured drivers ages 16-24 who had psychoactive drugs detected in their system increased from 27.9% in 2000 to 40% in 2010 (Beirness et al. 2013).

> Cannabis is the most commonly found drug in young drivers tested at roadside and who are fatally injured in crashes.

Youth DUID: International problem

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> Youth have perceptions about the prevalence, acceptability, and risk of DUID:

» DUID is not a serious problem.

» DUID is safer than alcohol-impaired driving.

» Some drug use does not adversely affect driving ability.

» Some drug use improves driving ability.

» Likelihood of detection and apprehension is low.

Youth perceptions of DUID

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http://bit.ly/1iIrMXN

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> Systematically review the literature on prevention initiatives and approaches.

> Identify effective prevention programs, interventions, initiatives, and approaches aimed at reducing DUID among youth.

> Inform the development of future prevention initiatives.

Purpose of review

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> Few programs and campaigns specific to issue and target audience.

> Very limited body of literature; lack of evaluation research.

> Definitive conclusions about the impact of programs and campaigns on behavior could not be drawn.

> Review did identify promising prevention strategies that affected knowledge and changed attitudes.

Review findings

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> Specific approaches, such as encouraging youth to examine their attitudes, think critically, make responsible choices and communicate, could create opportunities for empowerment.

> The teaching of coping skills, life skills, and peer pressure resistance strategies, as well as having youth assume leadership roles, could build self-esteem.

Promising approaches

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> Youth-centric, youth-created, culturally sensitive, factual messaging will ensure information is believable and easily understood by the target audience.

> Involvement of parents and engagement of the community could expand the outreach and impact of prevention initiatives.

> Strategic timing.

Promising approaches

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The importance of self-efficacy> Self-efficacy is the most important predictor

of behavior change (Cismaru et al. 2009).

> Necessary to provide advice on HOW to avoid drugged driving.

» Should involve low costs. » Feasible and practical alternatives.

> Making youth feel that they can actually follow the recommendations should constitute one of the main objectives of any drugged driving prevention campaign.

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> Prevention alone cannot be ‘the’ solution.

> In the absence of the risk of being detected, fined, or prosecuted for drugged driving, education alone is not enough.

> Enforcing detection and penalties in conjunction with prevention efforts could make the consequences of driving after using drugs relevant.

Prevention and enforcement

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