By Teena Monteleone

MADD concerned about potential increase in drug-impaired accidents

Oct 16, 2018 | 3:00 PM

For decades, Mother’s Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) has delivered the message that it is not socially acceptable to drive while impaired by alcohol, but the president of the local chapter said the public needs to be made more aware of the risks of driving while impaired by marijuana.

“Some people still believe driving under the influence of marijuana is not risky. They say they are more cautious and drive slower and it’s not as dangerous as drunk driving,” Trina Cockle said. “It is just as dangerous especially when you have the mix of alcohol and marijuana.”

A national study by the Partnership for a Drug-Free Canada revealed nearly one third (32 per cent) of teens did not consider driving under the influence of cannabis to be as bad as alcohol. Nearly 25 per cent of parents of teenagers did not consider driving while high on cannabis to be as bad as drinking and driving. Information found on MADD Canada’s website also points to a 2012 study by researchers at Dalhousie University in Halifax that found smoking cannabis three hours before driving nearly doubled a driver’s risk of having a motor vehicle crash.

The Ministry of Corrections and Policing recently provided $25,000 to MADD Canada as part of the government’s efforts to curb impaired driving. The funding will be used for programs that educate students and their teachers about the dangers of impaired driving.

“Saskatchewan has made significant progress when it comes to curbing impaired driving, but we need to remain vigilant,” Joe Hargrave, the minister responsible for SGI said. “MADD’s education and advocacy work in communities, in schools and in the media helps keep the issue top of mind.”

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Cockle said MADD worked on how to address the legalization of marijuana for some time. They changed their focus awhile ago to include both alcohol and drug impairment in their message. The logo now includes “No alcohol. No drugs. No victims.” but Cockle said there are still a lot of unanswered questions. She attended a conference that focused on consumption of marijuana and it opened her eyes to the challenges that lay ahead for local police, specifically when it comes to testing for marijuana impairment and laying charges.

“We would have liked more time for the police forces to prepare and have more things in place but we aren’t going into the legalization of marijuana blind. We have the education provided to us by MADD Canada and we will push it out to the community whenever and wherever we can,” Cockle said.

teena.monteleone@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TeenaMonteleone