Marijuana-Influenced Drivers are twice as likely to get into an Accident

When you think of a DUI, it’s immediately assumed that someone was pulled over and caught driving under the influence of alcohol. Being drunk behind the wheel is the most common form of DUI, but it’s not the only way to obtain one. Drivers who test positive for marijuana or reported using marijuana and then driving have double the risk of being involved in vehicle accidents, compared to drivers who are not under the influence, researchers from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health reported. The authors add that over ten million individuals aged at least 12 years are thought to have driven under the influence of illegal drugs during the last twelve months in the USA. They also found that people who tested positive for marijuana or reported having just used it had over twice the risk of being involved in a car crash compared to people who had consumed no drugs (including alcohol). They also reported an association between levels of marijuana concentration found in urine and crash risk – the higher the concentration the higher the risk.

Marijuana, especially in today’s culture, is widely viewed as a virtually harmless drug, and driving under the influence of marijuana isn’t usually considered a danger. But the truth is that when someone smokes marijuana, THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream, which carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body. This causes delayed reaction time behind the wheel which will obviously increase the probability of an accident. Marijuana intoxication can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory. These symptoms are not the most ideal for the driver of a vehicle, so it’s no surprise that marijuana influenced drivers are twice as likely to get into an accident.

The abuse of marijuana is often underplayed, and though it is not as dangerous as chemical based drugs, given the right scenario marijuana can be very dangerous. Teenagers in the Boston, Massachusetts (MA) area who just recently got their drivers license are at an ever higher risk because they are more likely to smoke marijuana than adults. If anyone in the Boston, Massachusetts (MA) community, a family member, or friend struggles with marijuana abuse, Seabrook can help. Seabrook is an internationally recognized private and exclusive inpatient drug rehab and alcoholism detoxification treatment center who has achieved an elite CARF accreditation status, ensuring that rehab patients receive the highest quality treatment. Seabrook is located in rural Bridgeton, New Jersey (NJ)—roughly a 6 hour drive or about an hour flight from Boston, Massachusetts (MA). Marijuana can definitely be a dangerous drug, and the expert treatment staff at Seabrook can help prevent the future abuse of marijuana, which will help prevent potential future accidents.