Driving after cannabis consumption among US adults ages 50 years and older: A short communication

Abstract

Introduction

Adults’ cannabis consumption is increasing in the United States (US) and consumption can increase risks such as impaired driving. Understanding driving after cannabis use (DCU) can guide lifespan-tailored prevention efforts. We evaluated the prevalence and correlates of self-reported DCU among cannabis-using adults ages 50 + .

Methods

Data are from a nationally representative study of adults ages 50 + (N=3379); we included the sub-sample who self-reported past-year cannabis use (N = 729, 21.4 %). We measured socio-demographics, social functioning, caregiving, cannabis use, and motives for cannabis use and used unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models to evaluate the associations of these factors with past-year DCU within 2 h of consumption (yes/no).

Results

Sample socio-demographics included: 64.8 % age 50–64, 35.2 % age 65 + ; 50.5 % female; 71.8 % White Non-Hispanic, 10.5 % Black Non-Hispanic, 11.3 % Hispanic and 6.5 % other Non-Hispanic. There were 20.2 % (n = 142) who reported DCU. In unadjusted analyses, more frequent cannabis use and cannabis use motives for mental health and sleep were significantly associated with DCU. In adjusted analyses, men (vs. women, OR = 1.72, 95 % CI = 1.03–3.01), daily cannabis use (vs. once/twice OR = 3.31, 95 % CI: 1.79–6.12] and mental health motives (OR = 1.93, 95 % CI: 1.13–3.30) were significant.

Conclusions

About 1 in 5 adults ages 50 +  who use cannabis report DCU. Interventions to prevent cannabis-impaired driving should be targeted to these aging adults; clinicians may tailor intervention delivery based on relevant risk factors (e.g., mental health concerns, daily use).