Driving after consuming alcohol or illicit drugs among students at commuter colleges in the United States and Spain

Abstract EN

Alcohol and illicit drug use and abuse are widespread on university campuses in many industrialized nations.

In the present study, we collected survey data on driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs from students (N = 555) from 18 to 20 years of age, attending commuter college campuses in the United States and Spain.

Compared to U.S.

students, Spanish students reported higher rates of lifetime alcohol and marijuana use, but lower rates of binge drinking in the past month.

Among those with driver’s licenses, U.S.

students were more likely to report ever driving a vehicle after consuming alcohol or marijuana compared to Spanish students.

In both countries, being male predicted driving after consuming alcohol and sensation seeking predicted driving after consumption of marijuana.

Findings suggest that preventive interventions to reduce drunk and drugged driving are needed among U.S.

and Spanish young adults at commuter college campuses.