Marijuana and Alcohol: A Deadly Combination

Did you know that drivers who combine marijuana and alcohol are five times more likely to cause fatal two-vehicle crashes compared with non-impaired drivers involved in similar collisions? That’s according to research by the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. In addition, alcohol use alone increased driver crash culpability by 437%, while marijuana use alone increased driver crash culpability by 62%.

The obvious underlying take-away from this statistic is that yes, the combination of both marijuana and alcohol is deadly. However, taken alone, each one can have devastating consequences as well.

Here are some more bullet points from this recent study:

• Most drivers who tested positive for alcohol, marijuana, or both were between the ages of 25 and 44 years old, with previous crash and violation histories in the last three years.
• Impairment due to the use of pot and booze resulted in three common driving errors that led to crashes: failure to stay in lane (43%), failure to yield (22%), and speeding (21%).
• Alcohol-impaired driving is still a leading factor in traffic deaths in this country; however, driving under the influence of marijuana has risen markedly over the last 20 years.

No One is Immune from the Marijuana + Alcohol Combination

Celebrities are humans, too, and as such are not immune from the effects of intoxication. And they’ll get pulled over just like any normal person, too – a recent example is singer Aaron Carter, arrested in Georgia for driving under the influence. Famous or not, when anyone uses both marijuana and alcohol, they put more lives into greater danger.

It’s critical to refrain from mixing pot and booze. However, nobody should drive under the influence of either one. Drugged driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana can slow reaction time, impair judgment of time and distance, and decrease coordination.

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Contact Power Legal Group

If you have been injured in a car accident at the hands of a driver who was using marijuana, alcohol or both, you need to call Power Legal Group right now at 800-323-POWER. We give free initial consultations and case evaluations to get you the justice you deserve.

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