In the 1980s, the U.S. government launched a public service campaign with the slogan, “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.” Sound familiar? Since that time, designated drivers—along with other factors such as safer vehicles and stricter law enforcement—have helped save tens of thousands of lives.

However, it’s important to remember that driving under the influence is not only limited to alcohol. According to research from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, illicit substance use by college students has risen exponentially in recent decades, and the prevalent problem of drugs like heroin and other opiates in Vermont is no secret. Another troubling trend is that college students are about half as likely to use a designated driver when they are high compared to when they are under the influence of alcohol.

Take for instance that approximately nine out of ten college students who drive under the influence of drugs report using marijuana alone. From a safety perspective, the impairing effects of marijuana such as, diminished memory, attention and motor control are similar to those of alcohol. Cannabinoid users commonly—and falsely—believe that they can compensate for being high through increased vigilance when, in fact, driving under the influence of marijuana is correlated with a significantly increased risk of being in a motor vehicle accident.

This information is not intended to leave the reader with the impression that the majority of Johnson State College students drink or use drugs—they do not. However, for the population that does, there is an increased risk to both public and personal safety. For instance, a regular result of using illicit or illegal substances—like alcohol if the person is under 21 years of age, or diverted prescription medications from an acquaintance—is that the user does not ask for help when it’s needed, which can be dangerous or even deadly when combined with driving.

From my perspective as a health care provider who has had the privilege of getting to know many students at JSC this semester, your safety remains my first priority. So I would encourage you, dear students, to please consider if you don’t let your friends drive drunk, why would you let your friends drive high?