Safe Communities Wellington County Wellington County is reporting there's a spike in driving incidents among youth who have used cannabis.
The organization took to social media recently to state 25 per cent of drivers aged 16 to 24 say they’ve driven after ingesting cannabis in one of its various forms.
Young people aged 16 to 24 report more cannabis use than other age groups in Canada and up to 25 per cent of 16- to 24-year-old cannabis users say they’ve driven after smoking, vaping or ingesting cannabis. #ourfutureroads #NTDSW2023 pic.twitter.com/kpmwvnTXOA
— Safe Communities WC (@SafeCWC) October 20, 2023
Further statistics from Parachute, who Safe Communities accredit the data to, as a part of #HaveThisTalk, state "youth aged 15 to 24 use cannabis at a rate twice as high as adults: One-third report using cannabis, and 19 per cent say they have driven within four hours of using cannabis."
Despite the numbers being national, the community organization says they are on par with what is observed in the county. They added that teen drivers killed in a crash often have cannabis in their system. Following teen driver safety week across Canada, Safe Communities Wellington County Program Coordinator Christine Veit says there is a pocket within the community where the numbers tend to be higher.
"Minto, Clifford, Palmerston have the highest instances of drug related crimes, people being pulled over with impairment, not alcohol but with drugs," Veit stated.
She added that many young drivers tell her they don't feel cannabis inhibits their ability to drive.
"Ever since the legalization of cannabis, each time I go to a school, I'll have at least five or six students tell me they drive better under the influence of cannabis," Veit said.
She says Safe Communities Wellington County makes an effort to speak with grade five students as well as local high schoolers throughout the region. Veit added the legalization of cannabis in 2018 has given teens more access and its been a harder issue to control.
Safe Communities Wellington County partner with local stakeholders in an effort to educate on the dangers of impaired driving including after ingesting cannabis.
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