Sensation seeking as a risk factor for drinking and driving among secondary school students in Puerto Rico

Drinking and driving is a major public health problem in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. In 2009, a total of 10,839 people died in crashes in which at least one driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of_0.08 grams per deciliter (g/dL). The purpose of this study is to estimate the prevalence of self-reported drinking and driving and to explore its association with sensation seeking. Consulta Juvenil has been designed as a monitoring program of the prevalence of substance use, violence and the risk factors associated with these problem behaviors. The survey was conducted during the 2011-12 academic year. The study utilizes a self-administered questionnaire. Participants included 7,028 (52.4%) females and 6,389 (47.6%) males. Half of the sample was between seventh and ninth grades with a median age of 15 years old. The majority of the sample was recruited from the public system (70.3%). From a total of 10,134 students, 2,206 (24.0) were classified as sensation seekers. The overall prevalence of drinking and driving was 4.5%. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that males (OR=2.44, CI: 1.99-2.99), and those who reported higher levels of sensation seeking (OR=4.65, CI: 3.78-5.72) were significantly more likely to report drinking and driving. The findings of this study suggest that adolescents who report higher levels of sensation seeking seem to be at higher risk for drinking and driving. Understanding who is most likely to report drinking and driving is important in developing interventions to prevent this behavior.