Vehicle crashes remain a primary cause of death among young adults (ages 18–25), with many incidents linked to alcohol or cannabis impairment. In 2020, COVID-19 restrictions led to reduced travel and increased parental oversight as young adults returned home, limiting opportunities for substance use. Despite these factors, fatal crashes—including those involving impaired driving—rose in 2020 and 2021, potentially influenced by cannabis legalization and a decline in perceived harm associated with its use. The current study aims to examine the trends in young adult self-reported driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI-A), cannabis (DUI-C), and simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use (DUI-AC) in a state with legalized nonmedical cannabis use from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study utilized cross-sectional data from the 2016–2021 cohorts of the Washington Young Adult Health Survey (n=12,585). Participants, aged 18 to 25 and residing in Washington State, completed a web-based survey on substance use, associated risk factors, and health behaviors, including demographic details and past 30-day instances of DUI involving alcohol (DUI-A), cannabis (DUI-C), or both substances (DUI-AC). Logistic regression models assessed deviations in impaired driving trends during the pandemic (2020–2021) relative to pre-pandemic years (2016–2019), adjusting for demographic variables, recruitment type, and substance use frequency.
This study observed that from 2016 to 2021, the prevalence of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI-A) was 12.0%, cannabis (DUI-C) was 12.5%, and simultaneous use of both substances (DUI-AC) was 2.7%, with no significant linear changes in these rates over the period. During the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021), DUI rates remained largely consistent with pre-pandemic levels. Among students attending 4-year colleges, there was a slight increase in DUI-A prevalence in 2020, though this change was not statistically significant. The research findings indicate that young adults continued to engage in impaired driving behaviors during the pandemic, suggesting that reduced traffic congestion may have contributed to higher driving speeds and, consequently, an increased risk of DUI-related accidents. Given that vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death among young adults, and with approximately 1 in 8 reporting DUI-A or DUI-C and nearly 3% reporting DUI-AC, the study underscores the ongoing need for targeted DUI prevention efforts among this population.
Takeaway: Continued prevention efforts targeting DUI among young adults are crucial, as impaired driving behaviors persisted consistently throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.