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

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess the sociodemographic and behavioral risk factors associated with driving after marijuana use among US college students. METHODS: A 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. RESULTS: A 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. DISCUSSION: Future 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.