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Effects of Combined Alcohol and Cannabis on Young Drivers' Simulated Driving
Sponsor study identifier
interventional
49
1 country
1
Study Start
July 4, 2017
Actual (reported)Primary Completion
January 17, 2020
Actual (reported)Study Completion
January 17, 2020
Actual (reported)Alcohol and cannabis are the two most widely used substances of abuse in the world and are the psychoactive substances most often found in seriously and fatally injured drivers. In a recent study, it was observed that individuals who reported both driving under the influence of alcohol (DUIA) and the influence of cannabis (DUIC) experienced collision risk that was nearly 4 times that of individuals who reported driving after using only one of these drugs. Recent research in the United States and Canada indicates that the prevalence of DUIC among young drivers of high school and university age, and young adults is similar to, or higher than, the prevalence of DUIA. This is a serious public health issue, since motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death in this age group. Given the frequency with which alcohol and cannabis are consumed together, it is important to understand their combined effects on driver behaviour. The current study will examine the acute effects of a moderate dose of cannabis (12.5% THC) combined with an intoxicating amount of alcohol (BAC=0.08) on driving simulator performance of young drivers. Following an eligibility screening and practice session, a total of 70 participants aged 19 to 29 years will each complete 4 experimental sessions. During each session, participants will drink alcohol or placebo alcohol and smoke an active or placebo cannabis cigarette. The effects of alcohol and cannabis on the performance of driving-related skills will be assessed using a high-fidelity driving simulator. Cognitive, psychomotor, and mood effects will also be assessed.
Registry-reported information. Elapsed time and enrollment totals alone do not measure study progress or recruitment pace.
January 17, 2020
Actual (reported)Click on a node to explore related trials.
Some registry-reported names shown below are not yet linked in this graph.
Dates and qualifiers reported by the registry. Estimated dates do not confirm that a milestone has occurred.
April 4, 2017
Actual (reported)April 10, 2017
Actual (reported)July 4, 2017
Actual (reported)January 17, 2020
Actual (reported)January 17, 2020
Actual (reported)July 24, 2026
Actual (reported)Psychomotor Impairment: Standard Deviation of Lateral Position
The driving simulator objectively measures changes in driving behavior after alcohol and/or cannabis exposure. Standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP) is a measure of lane control (higher SDLP indicates worse lane control).
Alcohol exposure is Time 0. Cannabis exposure follows 15 minutes after Time 0. Driving simulation tests occur within 2 hours before and approximately 45 minutes after Time 0.
Psychomotor Impairment: Mean Speed
Alcohol exposure is Time 0. Cannabis exposure follows 15 minutes after Time 0. Driving simulation tests occur within 2 hours before and approximately 45 minutes after Time 0.
Psychomotor Impairment: Standard Deviation of Speed
Alcohol exposure is Time 0. Cannabis exposure follows 15 minutes after Time 0. Driving simulation tests occur within 2 hours before and approximately 45 minutes after Time 0.
Psychomotor Impairment: Maximum Speed
Alcohol exposure is Time 0. Cannabis exposure follows 15 minutes after Time 0. Driving simulation tests occur within 2 hours before and approximately 45 minutes after Time 0.]
Psychomotor Impairment: Brake Latency
Alcohol exposure is Time 0. Cannabis exposure follows 15 minutes after Time 0. Driving simulation tests occur at baseline and approximately 45 minutes after Time 0.
Participant will drink an alcoholic beverage to obtain a target blood alcohol content of 0.08mg% and will smoke a delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (potency 12.5%) cigarette.
Participant will drink tonic water (capped with a minimal amount of alcohol to enhance alcohol cues) and will smoke a delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (potency 12.5%) cigarette.
A single oral administration of an alcoholic beverage mixed in a 1:3 ratio of alcohol to tonic water to obtain a target blood alcohol content of 0.08mg%.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2S1, Canada
Lenne MG, Dietze PM, Triggs TJ, Walmsley S, Murphy B, Redman JR. The effects of cannabis and alcohol on simulated arterial driving: Influences of driving experience and task demand. Accid Anal Prev. 2010 May;42(3):859-66. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2009.04.021.
Downey LA, King R, Papafotiou K, Swann P, Ogden E, Boorman M, Stough C. The effects of cannabis and alcohol on simulated driving: Influences of dose and experience. Accid Anal Prev. 2013 Jan;50:879-86. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2012.07.016. Epub 2012 Aug 4.
Christine M Wickens, PhD
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
49 participants (actual enrollment reported by the registry).
First Submitted
April 4, 2017
First Posted
April 10, 2017
Participant will drink an alcoholic beverage to obtain a target blood alcohol content of 0.08mg% and will smoke a placebo delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (\< 0.03%) cigarette.
Participant will drink tonic water (capped with a minimal amount of alcohol to enhance alcohol cues) and will smoke a placebo delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (\< 0.03%) cigarette.
A single oral administration of a beverage containing tonic water of the same volume as the alcoholic beverage.
A single cannabis cigarette (potency 12.5% delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol) will be given to participants to smoke over a 10 minute period, ad libitum. If the cannabis cigarette is not smoked in its entirety, the remainder will be weighed to estimate dose.
A single placebo cannabis cigarette (\<0.03% delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol) will be given to participants to smoke over a 10 minute period, ad libitum. If the placebo cannabis cigarette is not smoked in its entirety, the remainder will be weighed to estimate dose.
Registry-reported names are shown in full. Names without a link have not yet been matched to a Syfrah profile.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Di Ciano P, Brands B, Fares A, Wright M, Stoduto G, Byrne P, McGrath M, Hasan OSM, Le Foll B, Wickens CM. The Utility of THC Cutoff Levels in Blood and Saliva for Detection of Impaired Driving. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2023 Jun;8(3):408-413. doi: 10.1089/can.2022.0187. Epub 2023 Feb 2.
Study Start
July 4, 2017
Actual (reported)Primary Completion
January 17, 2020
Actual (reported)Study Completion
January 17, 2020
Actual (reported)Last Updated
July 24, 2026
Results First Posted
July 24, 2026
Record last verified: 2024-03
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Source: ClinicalTrials.gov.
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