Dr. Kari Finley will present, “Exploring Washington State’s Traffic Safety Culture About Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis and Alcohol,” at the CADCA Mid-Year Training Institute on July 15, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. 

Driving under the influence of cannabis and alcohol (DUICA) is a common poly-drug combination among drivers in fatal crashes. Given the devastating consequences associated with fatal crashes, it is imperative to address this drug trend. This session highlights a project to understand the driving culture in Washington State and shares how the state is making data-driven decisions to change behavior.

In a 2014 roadside survey of people in Washington State, 44% of drivers self-reported that they had driven within two hours of using cannabis at least once in the past 12 months. In this session, we will explore a recent 2018 survey of a representative sample of adults in Washington State to understand the culture about driving under the influence of cannabis and alcohol (DUICA). Culture is defined as the shared values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of a group of people. For example, in the survey, we learned that most adults in Washington State have positive shared values, attitudes, and beliefs. However, too many drivers are engaging in risky behaviors: 22% reported driving after consuming alcohol; 15% reported driving after consuming cannabis; and 9% reported driving after using both.

We also found there were misperceptions about the prevalence of DUICA behavior, and we learned there are differences between those who DUICA and others. For example, those with a positive attitude about DUICA were twice as likely to DUICA as those who had a negative attitude. Similarly, those who thought DUICA was acceptable were 4.5 times as likely to DUICA compared to those who believe it is unacceptable. Finally, we will share insights about how Washington State is using their results to make data-informed decisions regarding which strategies to implement.

At the end of the training session, the participants will be able to: 

1. Participants will learn about the emerging drug trend of driving under the influence of cannabis and alcohol.

2. Participants will learn about a survey in Washington State to understand the culture (shared values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors) about driving under the influence of cannabis and alcohol (DUICA) in Washington State.

3. Participants will learn about how Washington State is using their data to make data-informed decisions regarding strategies to reduce DUICA in ways that are culturally relevant.

Learn more about Kari’s presentation on the CADCA website