Alcohol-Impaired Driving: The Influence of Adverse Rearing Environments, Alcohol, Cannabis Use, and the Moderating Role of Anxiety

Abstract

Background The rate of alcohol-impaired driving (AID) increases during the college years and students who have reported adverse rearing environments appear to be at increased risk for the development of alcohol and drug use behaviors. Alcohol and cannabis are the most commonly used drugs by college students, and these substances are particularly predictive of substance-impaired driving. Objectives The present study aimed to investigate whether adverse rearing environment experiences and level of alcohol and cannabis use are related to the frequency of alcohol-impaired driving and whether anxiety might buffer or accelerate this effect. Methods Data regarding adversity, drug use, anxiety, and AID were obtained from 1,265 students annually, from first to final year of college, over four waves (Mean Age at wave 1 = 18.5 years). Results Structural equation modeling supported associations among childhood adversity, alcohol, cannabis, and anxiety symptoms. A significant mediation effect was found such that adversity was predictive of AID via alcohol use and cannabis use. Among men, anxiety symptoms accelerated the path from increased cannabis use and decelerated the path from increased alcohol use to AID frequency. Conclusions/Importance Childhood adversity is a developmental risk precursor to drug use and AID, whereas anxiety might serve a risk or protective factor to AID, contingent on the drug used.

Exploring Cannabis and Alcohol Co-Use in Adolescents: A Narrative Review of the Evidence

“…Although cannabis and alcohol are frequently used together, few human studies have examined the effects of cannabis and alcohol co-use on cognition, and none have tested this relationship in adolescents. Understanding the effects of co-use on cognitive processes is particularly relevant in the context of adolescent impaired driving, a matter of great public importance (Oshri, Carlson, Bord, & Zeichner, 2017). We will thus briefly review the few adult studies that have explored the acute effects of THC and alcohol on cognitive and motor abilities, which have generated mixed results.…”

The Associations of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) With Substance Use in Young Adults: A Systematic Review

“…Individuals with ACEs were more likely to use or abuse alcohol or other substances during early adulthood; this association was pronounced for multiple ACEs. 5,6,99-147 Interestingly, Crandall et al 99 showed that when counter-ACEs were included in the model, they weakened the significant association of ACEs with substance use. This suggests that positive and encouraging childhood experiences can not only “cancel out” the effect of adverse experiences but also serve as a protective factor against substance use in early adulthood.…”