PERCEPTION OF RISK AND BEHAVIORS ASSOCIATED WITH DRIVING UNDER THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA ON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS OF VENEZUELA

Amesty, Elvia; Agic, Branka; Hamilton, Hayley · 2019 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1590/1980-265x-tce-cicad-22-26

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Summary

This study investigates the relationship between risk perception and driving behaviors under the influence of alcohol and marijuana among university students in Venezuela. Motivated by high rates of substance use in the region and the limited literature on driving under the influence (DUI) in Latin America, the research aims to determine how students’ perceptions of legal sanctions, police detection, and accident risks correlate with their actual DUI behaviors. The authors posit that lower risk perception may facilitate risky driving and passenger behaviors, particularly given the cultural normalization of alcohol consumption in Venezuela. The researchers conducted a quantitative cross-sectional study involving 383 university students with an average age of 21.2 years. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire adapted from the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey, alongside the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST) to assess consumption patterns. The study evaluated two primary behaviors: driving within two hours of substance use and riding as a passenger with an impaired driver. Risk perception was measured across three dimensions: probability of accident involvement, likelihood of police detention, and likelihood of legal sanctions. The results indicate high prevalence rates of substance use, with 86.4% of students reporting alcohol consumption and 18.3% reporting marijuana use in the past year. Among those who consumed alcohol, 25.4% reported driving under its influence, while 31.4% of those using both substances reported driving while impaired. Students perceived a high risk of accidents when driving under the influence of alcohol (93.7%) or both substances (91%), but a lower risk for marijuana alone (77%). Conversely, perceptions of being detained or sanctioned were low, with over 66% of students viewing penalties as unlikely for alcohol and marijuana use. Crucially, statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in the perception of legal or detention risks between students who engaged in DUI behaviors and those who did not. However, students who drove under the influence of alcohol or both substances, or who rode with drivers under the influence of marijuana or both substances, perceived a significantly lower risk of being involved in an accident compared to those who did not engage in these behaviors. The study concludes that Venezuelan university students exhibit a low perception of legal consequences for DUI, likely due to the limited enforcement of existing traffic laws. While students recognize the danger of accidents, those engaging in risky behaviors underestimate this specific risk, particularly regarding marijuana and combined substance use. The authors recommend implementing targeted educational programs within universities to correct these risk perceptions and advocate for stricter enforcement of legal regulations and public policies to deter impaired driving.

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