IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i23p9033-d456013.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effects of Smoking Cannabis on Visual Function and Driving Performance. A Driving-Simulator Based Study

Author

Listed:
  • Sonia Ortiz-Peregrina

    (Laboratory of Vision Sciences and Applications, Department of Optics, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain)

  • Carolina Ortiz

    (Laboratory of Vision Sciences and Applications, Department of Optics, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain)

  • José J. Castro-Torres

    (Laboratory of Vision Sciences and Applications, Department of Optics, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain)

  • José R. Jiménez

    (Laboratory of Vision Sciences and Applications, Department of Optics, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain)

  • Rosario G. Anera

    (Laboratory of Vision Sciences and Applications, Department of Optics, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain)

Abstract

Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in the world. Limited information about the effects of cannabis on visual function is available, and more detail about the possible impact of visual effects on car driving is required. This study investigated the effects of smoking cannabis on vision and driving performance, and whether these effects are correlated. Twenty drivers and occasional users were included (mean (SE) age, 23.3 (1.0) years; five women). Vision and simulated driving performance were evaluated in a baseline session and after smoking cannabis. Under the influence of cannabis, certain visual functions such as visual acuity ( p < 0.001), contrast sensitivity ( p = 0.004) and stereoacuity (far, p < 0.001; near, p = 0.013) worsened. In addition, there was an overall deterioration of driving performance, with the task of keeping the vehicle in the lane proving more difficult ( p < 0.05). A correlation analysis showed significant associations between driving performance and visual function. Thus, the strongest correlations were found between the distance driven onto the shoulder and stereoacuity, for near ( ρ = 0.504; p = 0.001) and far distances ( ρ = 0.408; p = 0.011). This study provides the first evidence to show that the visual effects of cannabis could impact driving performance, compromising driving safety. The results indicate that information and awareness campaigns are essential for reducing the incidence of driving under the influence of cannabis.

Suggested Citation

  • Sonia Ortiz-Peregrina & Carolina Ortiz & José J. Castro-Torres & José R. Jiménez & Rosario G. Anera, 2020. "Effects of Smoking Cannabis on Visual Function and Driving Performance. A Driving-Simulator Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:23:p:9033-:d:456013
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/23/9033/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/23/9033/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Miriam Casares-López & José J. Castro-Torres & Sonia Ortiz-Peregrina & Francesco Martino & Carolina Ortiz, 2021. "Changes in Visual Performance under the Effects of Moderate–High Alcohol Consumption: The Influence of Biological Sex," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-15, June.
    2. Charles F. Yates & Jin Y. Huang & Dario A. Protti, 2022. "Tonic Endocannabinoid Levels Modulate Retinal Signaling," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, September.
    3. Sonia Ortiz-Peregrina & Carolina Ortiz & Rosario G. Anera, 2021. "Aggressive Driving Behaviours in Cannabis Users. The Influence of Consumer Characteristics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-17, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:23:p:9033-:d:456013. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.