Effects of Cannabis/Alcohol on Driving Performance and Field Sobriety Tests
Status:
Not yet recruiting
Trial end date:
2023-06-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The overarching aim of this study is to examine the impact of acute cannabis and alcohol
administration on driving performance, as well as identify methods for detecting driving
under the influence of these substances. One-hundred twenty-five healthy volunteers will be
randomized into one of 5 conditions; those who receive 1) low dose alcohol and placebo
cannabis, 2) low dose alcohol and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 3) high dose alcohol and
placebo cannabis, 4) placebo alcohol and THC, and 5) double placebo. Cannabis inhaled ad
libitum and/or ingested alcohol will take place at the beginning of the day followed by the
completion of driving simulations, components of the Drug Recognition Expert (DRE)
evaluations, and bodily fluid draws (e.g., blood, oral fluid/saliva, breath) over the
subsequent 4 hours after ingestion. The purpose of this study is to determine (1) the impact
of Δ9-THC on driving performance with and without concurrent alcohol ingestion (2) the
duration of driving impairment in terms of hours from initial use, (3) the relationship
between performance on the DRE measures and cannabis/alcohol ingestion, and 4) if saliva or
expired air can serve as a useful adjunct to the field for blood sampling.