TY - JOUR
T1 - Associations Between Drug Use and Motorcycle Helmet Use in Fatal Crashes
AU - Rossheim, Matthew E.
AU - Wilson, Fernando
AU - Suzuki, Sumihiro
AU - Rodriguez, Mayra
AU - Walters, Scott
AU - Thombs, Dennis L.
PY - 2014/10
Y1 - 2014/10
N2 - Objective: Helmet use reduces mortality risk for motorcyclists, regardless of drug and alcohol use. However, the association between drug use and motorcycle helmet utilization is not well known. This study examines the relationship between drug use and motorcycle helmet use among fatally injured motorcycle riders.Methods: Using data from the 2005-2009 Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), we examined the association between drug use and motorcycle helmet use in a multivariable logistic regression analysis of 9861 fatally injured motorcycle riders in the United States.Results: For fatally injured motorcycle riders, use of alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs was associated with increased odds of not wearing a motorcycle helmet, controlling for the effects of state motorcycle helmet laws and other confounding variables. Predicted probabilities indicate that helmet use substantially decreases among fatally injured riders mixing alcohol with marijuana and other drugs. Furthermore, the likelihood of helmet use between marijuana-only users and other drug users is virtually the same across all blood alcohol content (BAC) levels.Conclusions: This study provides evidence that alcohol, marijuana, and other drug use is associated with not wearing a motorcycle helmet in fatal motorcycle crashes. There is a clear need for additional prevention and intervention efforts that seek to change helmet and drug use norms among motorcycle riders.
AB - Objective: Helmet use reduces mortality risk for motorcyclists, regardless of drug and alcohol use. However, the association between drug use and motorcycle helmet utilization is not well known. This study examines the relationship between drug use and motorcycle helmet use among fatally injured motorcycle riders.Methods: Using data from the 2005-2009 Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), we examined the association between drug use and motorcycle helmet use in a multivariable logistic regression analysis of 9861 fatally injured motorcycle riders in the United States.Results: For fatally injured motorcycle riders, use of alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs was associated with increased odds of not wearing a motorcycle helmet, controlling for the effects of state motorcycle helmet laws and other confounding variables. Predicted probabilities indicate that helmet use substantially decreases among fatally injured riders mixing alcohol with marijuana and other drugs. Furthermore, the likelihood of helmet use between marijuana-only users and other drug users is virtually the same across all blood alcohol content (BAC) levels.Conclusions: This study provides evidence that alcohol, marijuana, and other drug use is associated with not wearing a motorcycle helmet in fatal motorcycle crashes. There is a clear need for additional prevention and intervention efforts that seek to change helmet and drug use norms among motorcycle riders.
KW - alcohol drinking
KW - drugs
KW - helmets
KW - marijuana
KW - motorcycles
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84902661694&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84902661694&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/15389588.2013.866235
DO - 10.1080/15389588.2013.866235
M3 - Article
C2 - 24245609
AN - SCOPUS:84902661694
SN - 1538-9588
VL - 15
SP - 678
EP - 684
JO - Traffic Injury Prevention
JF - Traffic Injury Prevention
IS - 7
ER -