Preliminary study of the interactive effects of THC and ethanol on self-reported ability and simulated driving, subjective effects, and cardiovascular responses.

Publisher: Springer-Verlag Country of Publication: Germany NLM ID: 7608025 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1432-2072 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00333158 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: Berlin, New York, Springer-Verlag.

Hallucinogens*/pharmacology ; Automobile Driving*; Humans ; Dronabinol ; Ethanol ; Self Report ; Psychomotor Performance ; Double-Blind Method

Rationale: Drug- and alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Compared to alcohol, less is known about the effects of cannabis on driving and even less about their combined effects.
Objective: To characterize the combined and separate effects of ethanol and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on perceived ability to drive, subjective effects, and simulated driving.
Methods: In a within-subject (crossover), randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, 2 × 2 design, the effects of oral THC (10 mg [dronabinol] or placebo) and low-dose intravenous ethanol (clamped at BAC 0.04% or placebo) on perceived ability to drive, simulated driving (standard deviation of lateral position [SDLP]), subjective effects (e.g., "high"), and physiological effects (e.g., heart rate) were studied in healthy humans (n = 18).
Results: Subjects reported reductions in perceived ability to drive (THC < ethanol < combination) which persisted for ~ 6 h (placebo = ethanol, THC < combination). Ethanol and THC produced synergistic effects on heart rate, significant differences compared to either drug alone on perceived ability to drive and feeling states of intoxication (e.g., high), as well increases in SDLP compared to placebo.
Conclusions: Perceived ability to drive is reduced under the influence of THC against the backdrop of blood alcohol levels that are below the legal limit. People should be aware that the effects of oral THC on driving may persist for up to six hours from administration. Findings are relevant to the increasingly common practice of combining alcohol and cannabinoids and the effects on driving.
(© 2023. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

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IK2 CX002547 United States CX CSRD VA; R21 AA024257 United States MH NIMH NIH HHS

Keywords: Alcohol; Cannabinoids; Cannabis; Driving; Dronabinol; Ethanol; Heart rate; Intoxication; Subjective effects; THC; Tetrahydrocannabinol

7J8897W37S (Dronabinol)
3K9958V90M (Ethanol)
0 (Hallucinogens)

Date Created: 20230412 Date Completed: 20230512 Latest Revision: 20231115

20240105

10.1007/s00213-023-06356-0

37045988