Evaluating risks, monitoring cannabis use, and planning to get home safely: Exploring self-regulation processes associated with cannabis use and driving

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Objective Preventing Cannabis-impaired driving involves understanding how users assess risk, monitor their use, and plan to get home safely. While extant research has shown substantial heterogeneity in patterns of cannabis use among different user groups, far less research has examined self-regulation among users. The current study aims to identify sub-groups of individuals who used or have used cannabis based on how they perceive risks, monitor their impairment, and plan to avoid driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) to examine how the different profiles relate to DUIC outcomes. Methods Participants were a Canadian sub-sample in the province of British Columbia who participated in the 2022 International Cannabis Policy study and reported ever using or currently using cannabis (N = 886, Mage = 43.58, SDage = 13.67; 63% female). Risk perception, impairment monitoring, planning ability, DUIC-related behaviors, Cannabis use and related problems were assessed through an online self-reported survey. Results Latent profile analysis identified three groups of self-regulators based on their level of risk perception, monitoring, and plan to avoid DUI. The majority (51%) of participants showed moderate self-regulation with average levels of risk perception, monitoring, and planning. A “highly self-regulated” group (20%) had the highest risk perception, monitoring, and planning. A “low self-regulated” group (29%) had the lowest risk perception, less confidence in monitoring, and lower DUI planning. There were significant differences between the profiles and DUIC outcomes. Cannabis users (including both historical and current users) with high self-regulation were less likely to be passengers of drivers under the influence and more likely to intervene to stop friends from driving while impaired, compared to those with low or moderate self-regulation. However, there were no profile differences in reports of having ever driven under the influence of cannabis. Conclusions Differences in risk perception, monitoring, and planning are associated with self-regulatory abilities. Understanding diverse self-regulation patterns among people who have used cannabis can help identify and mitigate risky behaviors, including DUI.