The links below contained detailed information for the upcoming 2017 Safe States Alliance Annual Meeting, taking place September 12-14, 2017 in Aurora, Colorado.
Please note:
- A total of five concurrent sessions will take place during the Annual Meeting, and there will be up to five breakouts occurring simultaneously during each of those concurrent sessions. Within each breakout, there will be up to four presentations that take place.
- This online system does not allow us to embed the individual presentations within each breakout. Please note the session presentations listed under each Concurrent Breakout title for associated content.
- The on-site mobile app WILL embed these sessions for ease of use.
- A printable, detailed agenda can be found on the 2017 Annual Meeting website.
- If you have any questions, please contact info@safestates.org
- All session times and locations are tentative and subject to change. Safe States will continue to update these details as changes take place.
Is Driving while High Safe? Perceptions and Behaviors of Driving under the Influence of Marijuana among Colorado Residents
Learning Objectives
1) Share survey methods and results on perceptions and behaviors of using marijuana while driving.
2) Describe the challenges to collecting data on the presence of marijuana in drivers in Colorado.
3)Explain efforts underway to improve data collection to detect active marijuana levels in drivers when pulled over by law enforcement or involved in traffic crashes.
Statement of Purpose
Research has shown marijuana is the most commonly detected non-alcohol drug in drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes nationally. With the legalization of retail marijuana in the state of Colorado, there is concern that more people are driving while high. Safety and injury prevention professionals wanted to know more from Coloradans on their perceptions and behaviors and outcomes regarding marijuana use and driving.
Methods/Approach
Three different sources of survey data were obtained to learn about marijuana use and driving patterns among Coloradans. The Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS) collects information on marijuana use while driving among youth. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) surveys adults on marijuana use and driving. Data was also obtained on motor vehicle crashes to analyze data on drivers who tested positive for marijuana.
Results
According to CDOT’s 2016 driver behavior survey, 55 percent of marijuana users believe it is safe to drive under the influence of marijuana and 72 percent felt driving under the influence of marijuana is safer than driving under the influence of alcohol. According to BRFSS, 18 percent of adult marijuana users reported driving after using marijuana in 2014-2015. Among high school students who drove within the past 30 days, ten percent drove after using marijuana, according to the 2015 HKCS. Motor vehicle crash data indicate there has been an increase in drivers at fault in fatal crashes who are under the influence of marijuana but the data has major limitations. Changes to motor vehicle crash reporting that improve data collected on marijuana are underway and will be presented.
Conclusions & Significance to the Field
As more states legalize recreational marijuana, it is helpful to share data and lessons learned from one of the first states to legalize recreational marijuana. Education, enforcement and improved data collection is needed to reduce the perception and behavior of driving while under the influence of marijuana in order to reduce impaired-driver motor vehicle injuries and fatalities.
Presenters
Christine Demont, MPH, Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
Biography
Christine Demont is an Injury Epidemiologist in the Violence and Injury Prevention and Mental Health Promotion Branch for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). One of her focus areas is to analyze data from motor vehicle crashes to reduce injuries and fatalities. Prior to coming to CDPHE, Ms. Demont was a Population Health Epidemiologist for Tri-County Health Department (TCHD) where she conducted community health assessments and needs assessments, designed surveys, and evaluated programs and initiatives. Ms. Demont holds a master’s degree in public health from the Colorado School of Public Health at the University of Colorado and has a bachelor’s degree in health and exercise science from Colorado State University. While in graduate school, Ms. Demont completed two public health internships, one with the Health Statistics Section at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and one with Tri-County Health Department/LiveWell Commerce City.