Perception of Students of a Public University on the Risk and Driving of an Automotive Vehicle Under the Effect of Alcohol and Marijuana

Abstract

Objectives: to investigate the relationship between risk perception and behaviors related to the driving of motor vehicle under the effect of alcohol and/or marijuana of students of a public university between 18 and 29 years; investigating the relationship between driving under influence, students' social network, and driving-related behaviors under the influence of alcohol and/or marijuana. Method: a transversal questionnaire was applied to 383 students. Inferential and descriptive statistics were used for data analysis, processed by SPSS. Results: are students who have used alcohol and marijuana; 37.1% presented problematic use of alcohol and 22.0% of marijuana. Regarding the correlations, the variables related to the use of marijuana were those that presented greater significance. The lower the perceived risk, the greater the possibility of hitchhiking with those who have used marijuana, that is, there is a strong association between taking a ride with someone who has driven under marijuana and the perception of risk of being detected, receiving sanction or suffer any harm (p<0.01). Conclusion: It is clear that in Brazil the emphasis on alcohol use prevention policies should also address issues related to marijuana use and student social networks.

Cannabis use, risk behaviours and harms in Brazil: A comprehensive review of available data indicators

“…In 2010, a non‐representative sample of university students assessed by the Inter‐American Drug Abuse Control Commission showed a prevalence of 13.8% for past‐year cannabis use [61]. Regional (e.g., city or state) samples ( n = 52–9974) identified rates of 8%–42% for lifetime, 2%–44% for past‐year, 9%–18% for past 3 months, and 0.6%–23% for past‐month cannabis use between 1996 and 2021 [62–83].…”

“…In two small cross-sectional undergraduate student samples in the Federal District of Brasília surveyed in 2016 (n = 383 and 382), 12% and 29% of the respondent with past-year cannabis use reported driving following use, while 42% and 12% reported getting a ride with someone that had used cannabis up to 2 h before (without specifying how the respondent knew the driver had used cannabis), respectively [75,76].…”