Transitions in Riding With an Alcohol/Drug-Impaired Driver From Adolescence to Emerging Adulthood in the United States.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine changes and predictors of changes in riding with an alcohol/drug-impaired driver (RWI) from 10th grade through the first post-high school year.

METHOD

Transition models were used to estimate the association of four waves (W1-W4) of RWI with W4 environmental-status variables and time-varying covariates in the NEXT Generation Health Study, a nationally representative cohort of U.S. 10th graders (N = 2,785).

RESULTS

Overall, 33% (weighted) of adolescents reported RWI in the past 12 months in W1, and slightly declined in W2 (24%), W3 (27%), and W4 (26%). Across time, transition models with generalized estimating equations showed that RWI was more likely among those who previously reported RWI (ORs from 3.62 to 3.66, p < .001), substance use (ORs from 1.81 to 1.82, p < .001), and heavy episodic drinking (ORs from 1.85 to 1.86, p < .001). Those living on college campuses were somewhat more likely to engage in RWI (OR = 1.38, .05 < p <.10) than those living at home. The effects of parental monitoring knowledge and peer alcohol/substance use on RWI were suppressed when individual substance use and heavy episodic drinking were taken into consideration.

CONCLUSIONS

Substance use and heavy episodic drinking in previous waves and the history of RWI were persistent factors of RWI in a dynamic pattern. The setting in which emerging adults live during their first post-high school year could affect their engagement in RWI. The findings suggest that harm-reduction strategies should focus on the identification of early RWI coupled with reduction of substance use and heavy episodic drinking.