Why Drive High?

Ottawa Public Health and Carlington Community and Health Services, on behalf of twenty-five community partners, developed a new interactive game called “Why Drive High?”

A marijuana leaf.

Did you know…

  1. That driving under the influence of marijuana is called “Drugged Driving”.
  2. That marijuana distorts perception and interferes with your hand and eye co-ordination.
  3. You could be putting your friends’ lives at risk by driving high.

Knowing the Facts Could Save a Life

Everyone knows not to DRINK AND DRIVE.
Now let’s talk about TOKING AND DRIVING.

Marijuana affects many of the skills required for driving including:

  • Alertness, concentration, co-ordination, reaction time, braking time, perception and the ability to react to sounds and signals.
  • Mixing alcohol with marijuana makes your driving impairment even more severe!

Ottawa Public Health and Carlington Community and Health Services have received funding from Health Canada’s Drug Strategy to design and promote a public awareness campaign which educates teens and parents about the driving-related risks of marijuana use, called “Why Drive High?”

The Stats:

A 2002 Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Monitor survey indicates that:

  • 2.9 per cent of drivers have driven a vehicle within 1 hour of smoking marijuana.
  • This estimate represents over 200,000 drivers in Ontario or (1 in every 34 drivers).

Of student drivers, the 2005 Ontario Student Drug Use Survey reports:

  • 20 per cent drove within 1 hour after smoking marijuana.

And of all students surveyed:

  • Almost 22 per cent have been a passenger with a driver who was using marijuana.

The “Why Drive High?” campaign is unique because:

  • It is available in 5 languages (English, French, Arabic, Somali and Chinese)
  • The design team include 10 multicultural youth advisors
  • There are over 27 community partners involved

The many partners include public health, schools, police, youth-focused community groups and community resource/ health centers.

Knowing the facts could mean the difference between life and death!

Why Drive High?
Why drive high? (french)

Why Drive High? (chinese)
Why Drive High? (Arabic)

Why Drive High? (Somali)

Resources

Look for the “Why Drive High?” poster near you!

For more information please contact Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744.

The success of the campaign is a result of cooperation between the following Community PARTNERS:

Ottawa Public Health; Carlington Community and Health Services; Algonquin College; Canadian Automobile Association of North & East Ontario; Carleton University; Centre for Addiction and Mental Health; Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario-Plan it-Safe; Conseil des écoles catholiques de langue française du Centre-Est; Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario; Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre; Focus Vanier; Health Canada; Mothers Against Drunk Driving-Ottawa Chapter; Ministry of Transportation; Multicultural Health Coalition; Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving Incorporated; Ontario Provincial Police; Ottawa Carleton Catholic District School Board; Ottawa Carleton District School Board; Ottawa Hospital-P.A.R.T.Y. program; Ottawa Police Services; Ottawa Road Safety Coalition; Royal Canadian Mounted Police-National Capital Region; Sexual Assault Partner Abuse Care Program; University of Ottawa; Young Drivers; Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa.
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