Risk Factors Associated With Driving After Marijuana Use Among US College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

PurposeTo assess the sociodemographic and behavioral risk factors associated with driving after marijuana use among US college students. MethodsA secondary analysis used the fall 2020 and spring 2021 American College Health Association- National College Health Assessment III and the dataset was restricted to college students ≥18 years of age who reported recent driving and marijuana use. Associations between risk factors and driving after marijuana use were estimated using multivariable logistic regression. ResultsA total of 29.9% (n = 4,947) of the respondents reported driving after marijuana use. Males (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.48–1.82), non-Hispanic Black (AOR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.02–1.71), sexual minorities (AOR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.07–1.31), individuals with an alcohol or substance use disorder (AOR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.08–1.91), anxiety (AOR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.06–1.36), higher suicidality (AOR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.07–1.31), and those who also drank and drove (AOR: 3.18, 95% CI: 2.84–3.57) had a higher risk of driving after marijuana use. DiscussionFuture research should focus on increasing awareness of driving after marijuana use and prevention programs and/or strategies on college campuses regarding driving after marijuana use for these groups to reduce this risky behavior.