In 2023, the National College Health Assessment reported that 69.3% of undergraduates consumed alcoholic beverages, 11.2% used alcohol moderately, 1.2% had high-risk alcohol use, and 63.5% used alcohol in the last three months. Drinking and driving (DAD) has been a public health concern for over a decade. Alcohol use is one of the leading causes for road traffic accidents (RTA), and the leading cause of death among college students in the US are accidents such as RTAs. This study aims to “identify risk and protective factors for DAD behaviors among college students and young adults using the social-ecological model (SEM) as a guiding framework.”
The article is a scoping review in which five databases were searched for studies using the terms “driving after drinking, drinking under the influence, risky driving, determinant/factors, and college students.” All studies consisted of a population of college students between the ages of 17 and 24 and examined drinking and driving. There was a total of 23 studies included in the final literature review. Many of the studies showed that for the majority of students, DAD was a result of turning 21. Being male also was found to increase the risk of DAD. Family history of alcohol use, peer pressure, and influences from friends and peers showed a strong association with driving after drinking.
This study found that key factors of DAD are alcohol use behaviors, Breath Alcohol Concentration (BrAC) levels, family history of drinking, substance use, and the age of first alcohol consumption. The use of marijuana was found to increases likelihood of DUI among college students. Education on the risk of combined alcohol and substance use, screening, and brief intervention that is tailored towards students at risk, alongside implementation of campus policies that promote responsible alcohol consumption, can help mitigate DAD.
Takeaway: Education on the risk of combined alcohol and substance use, screening, brief intervention, and implementation of campus policies that promote responsible alcohol consumption can help mitigate drinking and driving.