Associations of Perceived Risk of Regular Cannabis use With Cannabis-Related Driving and Passenger Behaviours Among Canadian High School Students

Abstract

Objective: Employing a sample of 33,915 high school students, the present study aimed to examine the association of perceived risk of regular cannabis use with driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) and riding with a cannabis-impaired driver (RWCD). Methods: Participants were drawn from the 2016-2017 Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey. Multinomial logistic regression techniques were employed in the analysis of adjusted and unadjusted models. Stratified analyses were also performed assessing effect size differences between males and females, and urban and rural students. Results: Greater perceived risk of regular cannabis use was associated with reduced risk of DUIC and RWCD in a dose-response manner. Associations were consistent for both males and females, and urban and rural students. Conclusions: Given the strong role played by youth perceptions in shaping cannabis-related driving and passenger behaviours, efforts must be placed on disseminating appropriate information regarding cannabis risks to high school students.