Problems Associated with Driving While Intoxicated

Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol has become a major issue of concern. In
the year 2013, it was estimated that more than ten million individuals operated motor vehicles
while under the influence of various drugs, both illicit and legal (Azofeifa et al., 2019).
Marijuana is one of the leading substances that is detected in drivers in the United States as well
as Europe in general. The law indicates that it is illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana.
However, developments in the law that resulted in the decriminalization of marijuana as well as
the medical use of the drug, pose a serious challenge to the safety of road users. Marijuana is
now easily accessible, and this means that effective legislation on marijuana use and driving
needs to be put in place to protect the lives of all road users.

Problem Statement and the Research Question
[Insert here. This part should be separate from the significance of the study]

Significance of the Study

Accidents remain a major cause of concern in the United States. In the year 2020, more
than 36,000 motor vehicle accidents occurred in the United States. The result was more than
38,000 deaths (Stewart, 2022). Evidently, there is a need to study factors that relate to motor
vehicle accidents. Driving under the influence of marijuana has been cited as one of the causes of
motor vehicle crashes. The dramatic increase in marijuana use raises concerns and needs the
attention of policymakers. The current study explores approaches to driving under the influence
of marijuana and proposes how the law can help curb this problem and, in so doing, guarantee
the safety of road users. A review of the literature as well as records of motor vehicle accidents,
is needed to come up with a better understanding of the issue at hand. An in-depth analysis of the

3
available literature as well as the current legal framework, is a critical step that can help provide
invaluable insights.
The Information/Data Needed to Answer the Research Question and Steps that Must be

Taken to Collect the Information/Data
[Insert here. This section should be separate from “significance of the study”]

Literature Review

Driving under the influence has traditionally referred to alcohol use. However, other
drugs, such as marijuana, are equally dangerous. Driving is a critical activity that requires one to
stay alert (Wong, Brady, & Li, 2018). The complexity of driving means that drugs that have an
adverse impact on the alertness levels of the brain can have an adverse impact on one’s ability to
drive. Marijuana has an impact on several areas of the brain that control body movement,
coordination, and balance (Wong, Brady, & Li, 2018). The implication is that the drug can
negatively affect a driver’s reaction time and ability to make critical decisions. Marijuana can
also adversely impact one’s perception as well as coordination. Memory and attention are also
impaired, and this increases the possibility of one crashing.
Apart from alcohol, cannabis remains one of the drugs that is found in the bodies of
drivers involved in fatal crashes. The number of drivers who are intoxicated with cannabis and
involved in fatal crashes has increased by over six percent since the legalization of recreational
marijuana (French et al., 2022). While the impact that drugs have on one’s driving has been
studied extensively, a lot remains unclear with regard to cannabis and driving. Further, cannabis
takes several forms. Some people smoke, while some administer the drug intravenously. In some
instances, some people ingest the drug (Wong, Brady, & Li, 2018). The absorption and the time

4
is taken for the drug to reach intoxicating levels varies depending on the mode of administration.
Unlike ethanol, which is contained in alcohol, cannabis has a complex intoxication mechanism.
In alcohol, it is easier to evaluate concentration by analyzing one’s breath (Cavazos-Rehg et al.,
2018). However, breath is moist and lacks lipids, and this means that cannabis cannot be detected
in one’s breath. The level of cannabinoids available in one’s blood plasma also fails to relate to
the level of impairment. Law enforcers have a hard time analyzing the level of THC in one’s
blood as well as the corresponding level of impairment.
From a legal standpoint, there are three approaches to driving under the influence in the
United States. The first approach is effect-based and requires the prosecution to prove
impairment as a result of the intoxication (Cavazos-Rehg et al., 2018). The drug must thus
interfere with the driver’s ability to control the motor vehicle. The approach has been relied upon
in many states in America. However, it suffers from a lack of standardization. There are no
agreed-upon methods of defining drug-induced impairment. Laboratory analysis of blood is
time-consuming and expensive (Cavazos-Rehg et al., 2018). The implication is that there are
minimal prosecutions for drug-induced impairment. On the other hand, some states have adopted
“per se” laws. These laws make it criminal for an individual to be intoxicated beyond the legal
limits. Exceeding the legal limits and operating a motor vehicle is seen as proof of impairment.
The final approach is zero tolerance, where the legal limit is set to zero. Zero tolerance
has various shortcomings. With zero tolerance, drivers who may have a concentration of
marijuana that does not impair their driving could be liable for criminal charges (Wong, Brady,
& Li, 2018). Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the component in cannabis, has a half-life of
approximately one week. The compound may take up to thirty days to be eliminated from one’s
urine. The implication is that the compound can be detected in one’s urine several days after

5
using marijuana (Wong, Brady, & Li, 2018). Frequency of use and other factors define the
amount of time it takes for it to be undetectable in one’s urine or blood. Habitual users of
marijuana can thus test positive for marijuana use without necessarily being impaired during the
time the test is undertaken. In addition, there is a risk of incriminating people who are exposed to
passive smoke (Wong, Brady, & Li, 2018). Chronic exposure to THC can result in one testing
positive, and the compound can be detected within one hour of exposure. The exposure may,
however, not induce impairment, and this means that such an individual risks being wrongfully
convicted of driving under the influence.
[Please provide solutions to drink-driving as part of your literature review. Check this link
https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/impaired_driving/strategies.html. These are just but
examples. You can use your own]. You can delete some content in the literature review coz some
of it is irrelevant. Just maintain important points and address all the prompts.
Stakeholders that may Sympathize with the Research Results and What Interests and

Perspectives They Could Bring

[Insert here]

Conclusion

The literature available on driving under the influence of cannabis is highly limiting.
Several gaps exist in the concentrations of THC that are sufficient to cause impairment. Data
obtained from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration can help supplement these
gaps. However, several conclusions can be made from the existing literature. The number of
deaths that result from driving under the influence of cannabis has been increasing over the
years. There is a need to conduct more research on the nature of the intoxication of cannabis as

6
well as the impairing effect on drivers. A huge investment needs to be made in laboratories that
analyze blood samples drawn from suspects. A threshold of intoxication that is considered illegal
needs to be set to ensure that more arrests are made, and roads are made safer.

7

References

Azofeifa, A., Rexach-Guzmán, B. D., Hagemeyer, A. N., Rudd, R. A., & Sauber-Schatz, E. K.
(2019). Driving under the influence of marijuana and illicit drugs among persons aged≥
16 years—United States, 2018. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 68(50), 1153.
Cavazos-Rehg, P. A., Krauss, M. J., Sowles, S. J., Zewdie, K., & Bierut, L. (2018). Operating a
motor vehicle after marijuana use: Perspectives from people who use high-potency
marijuana. Substance abuse, 39(1), 21-26.
French, M. T., Zukerberg, J., Lewandowski, T. E., Piccolo, K. B., & Mortensen, K. (2022).
Societal costs and outcomes of medical and recreational marijuana policies in the United
States: a systematic review. Medical care research and review, 79(6), 743-771.
Neavyn, M. J., Blohm, E., Babu, K. M., & Bird, S. B. (2014). Medical marijuana and driving: a
review. Journal of medical toxicology, 10, 269-279.
Stewart, T. (2022). Overview of motor vehicle crashes in 2020 (No. DOT HS 813 266).
Wong, K., Brady, J. E., & Li, G. (2018). Establishing legal limits for driving under the influence
of marijuana. Injury epidemiology, 1(1), 1-8.