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Rates of DUI significantly decrease among teens, young adults

Between 2002 and 2014, fewer adolescents and young adults drove under the influence of alcohol, marijuana or both, according to recently published data from the CDC. 

Researchers analyzed data from the 2002 to 2014 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Survey of Drug Use and Health to assess trends in driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana or both among adolescents and young adults aged 16 to 25 years (n = 383,700).

A 59% decrease in driving under the influence of alcohol was seen in individuals aged 16 to 20 years, and a 38% decreased was seen in those aged 21 to 25 years between 2002 and 2014.

There was an association between driving under the influence and age, with rates of drinking and driving occurring increasing with age and peaking at age 21 years with a rate of 18.1%.

Driving under the influence of both marijuana and alcohol declined from 2.3% to 1.4% in adolescents aged 16 to 20 years and from 3.1% to 1.9% in adults aged 21 to 25 years.  

Declines in rates of driving under the influence of marijuana was seen only in individuals aged 16 to 20 years, according to the researchers. However, the researchers noted that there was no significant change in rates of driving under the influence of marijuana over the study period.

“Enforcing effective public health intervention, such as minimum legal drinking age laws, prohibition of driving with any alcohol level > 0 for persons aged < 21 years, and roadside testing are important for maintaining the declining trends in driving under the influence of alcohol in the United States. Similar interventions might be useful to prevent driving under the influence of other substances, such as marijuana. In addition, improved field testing for marijuana use and standards for driving impairment may be needed in order to ensure public road safety,” the researchers concluded. – by Casey Hower