Using a smartphone app to study how cannabis affects driving behavior
Smartphone app to examine effects of cannabis use on driving behavior
This study is looking at how using cannabis affects driving for people who use it for medical reasons, using a smartphone app to track their driving habits and collecting samples to measure cannabis levels in their system over a month.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-10847720 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of cannabis use on driving behavior, particularly among medical cannabis patients. It employs a smartphone app to objectively detect driving behaviors and utilizes Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) to gather real-time data on patients' experiences with cannabis before driving. Additionally, biological samples will be collected to analyze THC and CBD levels, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of how cannabis affects driving in real-world scenarios over a period of up to 28 days.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are medical cannabis patients who drive and are willing to participate in monitoring their driving behavior and cannabis use.
Not a fit: Patients who do not use cannabis or do not drive may not receive any benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved safety measures and guidelines for medical cannabis patients regarding driving.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has indicated potential risks associated with cannabis use and driving, but this approach using a smartphone app and EMA is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Newark, UNITED STATES
- Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences — Newark, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chung, Tammy — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Chung, Tammy
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.