Combined cannabis and alcohol use make driving particularly dangerous

New research published today in the scientific journal Addiction has found that cannabis combined with alcohol is more detrimental to driving performance than either used in isolation.  This meta-analysis merged the findings of 57 studies representing about 1,725 participants.

The analysis found that cannabis and alcohol use on their own produce different types of poor driving.  The effects are additive when the two substances are used together. 

The effects of cannabis on driving performance were similar to those of low blood alcohol concentrations. Cannabis use on its own reduces lateral control of the vehicle (the ability to stay in the lane) even though drivers under the influence of cannabis slow their driving speed, possibly in an attempt to compensate for their impaired state.

In contrast, alcohol use on its own increases driving speed, which may indicate that drivers under the influnce of alcohol lack awareness of their impaired state. Alcohol also affects a greater number of driving performance indicators relative to cannabis, including  increased crashes, lateral position variability, lane excursions, speed, and speed variability, as well as reduced hazard response time.

The combination of both drugs generally impairs the ability to maintain lane position more than either substance taken on its own.  The study found no evidence that the two drugs counteract each other on speed.

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For editors:

This paper is free to download for one month upon publication from the Wiley Online Library: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/add.15770.  Pre-embargo copies are available by contacting Jean O’Reilly, Editorial Manager, Addiction, jean@addictionjournal.org.

To speak with lead author Dr Sarah Simmons: contact her by email (sarah.simmons@ucalgary.ca).

Full citation for article: Simmons S, Caird JK, Sterzer F, and Asbridge M (2021) The Effects of Cannabis and Alcohol on Driving Performance and Driver Behaviour: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Addiction: doi: 10.1111/add.15770

Funding: This research received financial support from a University Research Grants Committee Faculty Seed Grant (Social Sciences and Humanities).

Addiction is a monthly international scientific journal publishing peer-reviewed research reports on alcohol, substances, tobacco, and gambling as well as editorials and other debate pieces. Owned by the Society for the Study of Addiction, it has been in continuous publication since 1884.