Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
Health

Alcohol, drugs together put kids at higher driving risk

Darpan News Desk IANS, 28 Apr, 2014 11:03 AM
    Teenagers who drink alcohol and smoke marijuana together may be at increased risk for unsafe driving, a study shows.
     
    “Both drinking and other drug use are linked to risky driving. But this new research suggests that it is not only the frequency of substance use that is important. The patterns of drug use are also related to the risk of unsafe driving,” explained Yvonne Terry-McElrath from University of Michigan's institute for social research.
     
    The study of US high school seniors found that teenagers who had used both drugs in the past year had higher rates of traffic tickets/warnings and car accidents.
     
    The findings come from surveys of more than 72,000 US high school seniors.
     
    At particular risk were kids who used alcohol and marijuana at the same time: They were about 50 to 90 percent more likely to admit to unsafe driving than their peers who did not drink or smoke pot.
     
    Although both drinking and marijuana use declined over time but still a “significant number” of students were using both drugs in 2011, Terry-McElrath added.
     
    Roughly 40 percent of teenagers who used both drugs together received a traffic ticket or warning in the past year while about 30 percent had been in an accident.
     
    Media messages about unsafe driving should go beyond alcohol.
     
    “We often hear the message 'don't drink and drive'. But we do not hear much about the risks of using additional substances, either alone or simultaneously with alcohol,” she noted.
     
    The study has been published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

    MORE Health ARTICLES

    Honey Can Destroy Harmful Fungus, Save Lives

    Honey Can Destroy Harmful Fungus, Save Lives
    Researchers from Britain have identified the effect of honey used since ancient times for the treatment of several diseases, on pathogenic fungi that can cause devastating infections in vulnerable people.

    Honey Can Destroy Harmful Fungus, Save Lives

    New diabetes, obesity drug: Indian-American's promising research

    New diabetes, obesity drug: Indian-American's promising research
    Two researchers at Indiana University, including an Indian-American, are leading the way towards developing a new potential non-insulin drug for diabetes and obesity, which needs to be taken only once a week.

    New diabetes, obesity drug: Indian-American's promising research

    Build super muscles with soy-dairy protein

    Build super muscles with soy-dairy protein
    Not happy with gym results on your muscles? Try a blend of soy and dairy proteins after resistance exercises as this has now been touted as the best way to build muscle mass.

    Build super muscles with soy-dairy protein

    'Love hormone' bonds animals like humans

    'Love hormone' bonds animals like humans
    And you thought you had a patent on 'love hormone' when it comes to showing affection! Dogs too have oxytocin and release it in a good quantity when in love or looking for bonding.

    'Love hormone' bonds animals like humans

    Can you believe it? Metabolism existed even before origin of life, reveales study

    Can you believe it? Metabolism existed even before origin of life, reveales study
    The mystery behind how the first organisms on earth could have become metabolically active has been unlocked.

    Can you believe it? Metabolism existed even before origin of life, reveales study

    Fly's genome study offers hope for sleeping sickness

    Fly's genome study offers hope for sleeping sickness
    With genome decoding of tsetse fly that causes the potentially fatal sleeping sickness disease, scientists have discovered new clues to the diet, vision and reproductive strategies of the insect.

    Fly's genome study offers hope for sleeping sickness

    PrevNext