The effects of alcohol and marijuana in combination: a review

Epidemiological studies indicate that thc (or carboxy thc) is infrequently detected in the blood of dead drivers as the only drug present. In by far the majority of cases these cannabinoids are found in combination with alcohol. Also in the greater proportion of these cases, the BAC is more than 0.1 G per cent, and could itself be a contributory factor in the crash. Either drug alone has been shown to produce impairment of skills performance. When taken together the drug effect is generally one of addition, which most commonly is in the direction of an increase in impairment. There have been several reports which suggest an antagonistic effect exerted by low doses of marijuana on the effects of alcohol. Several reports have indicated that on some behaviours, alcohol and marijuana produce effects which are qualitatively different. Pharmacologically, marijuana and alcohol are distinctly different drugs. At the dose levels used in the studies completed to date, alcohol appears to produce the greater impairment. In all of the studies reported to date, the dose of thc has rarely exceeded 20 mg per subject. In view of the increase in potency of "street" marijuana which has occurred within recent years, it will be necessary to study the effects of higher doses of thc as well as their combination with low to moderate doses of alcohol.

• Authors:
  • Chesher, G B
• Conference:
  • Marijuana, Cocaine and Traffic Safety, International Symposium, 1986, Los Angeles, California, USA
• Publication Date: 1986-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 105-19
• Serial:
  • Alcohol, Drugs and Driving: Abstracts and Reviews
  • Volume: 2
  • Issue Number: 3/4

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohol effects; Behavior; Crash rates; Driver performance; Drivers; Driving simulators; Drugs; Drunk driving; Marijuana; Risk management; Tests
• ATRI Terms: Alcohol effects; Crash rate; Drink driving; Driver behaviour; Driver performance; Driving simulator; Drug; Marijuana; Risk; Test
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01418231
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 24 2012 6:08AM