Adolescent Substance Misuse and Driving
- Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death and serious injury in adolescents (Johnston, O’Malley, and Bachman, 2012).
- 19% of Illinois Youth reported riding with a driver who had been drinking alcohol in the last 30 days. (YRSB).
- Of Illinois Youth who had driven a car in the last 30 days, 5% had driven after using alcohol (YRSB).
Adolescent Risk of Traumatic Brain Injury
• According to the CDC, between 2006 and 2010, excessive drinking accounted for approximately 4,300 deaths each year among youth under 21 years of age.
• Loss of psychomotor functioning associated with alcohol consumption increases the likelihood of an accident, thus increasing the risk of traumatic brain injury (Weil, Corrigan & Karelina, 2016).
Role of Primary Care Provider
- Discuss “Contract for Life” with your patients, a document that asks adolescents to pledge never to accept a ride from an impaired driver.
- Encourage parents to pledge to always provide a safe ride home.
History of TBI and Impact on Adolescent Substance Misuse
⇒ Up next: Screening
⇐ Back to: Binge Drinking