In this Wellness Minute, intern Lauren Cole from the Office of Wellness Education and Prevention discusses impaired driving with Chelsea Lippa. Cole explains that impaired driving includes operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, illegal drugs, or prescription medications, alone or in combination.
She notes that even small amounts of alcohol can slow reaction time and increase crash risk, while marijuana use can impair multitasking, judgment, and memory—raising crash likelihood by up to 35%.
According to 2025 campus data, 24% of Northwest Missouri State students reported driving within two hours of drinking, 15% after consuming cannabis, and 40% after smoking cannabis—slightly higher than at other universities. However, no students reported driving after misusing prescription drugs in the past three years.
Cole attributes impaired driving to factors such as early alcohol use, family history, peer influence, and risk-taking behavior. She emphasizes a multifaceted prevention approach, combining education, policy enforcement, screenings, and safe transportation options.
She highlights Northwest’s Safe Ride program, free counseling, and online wellness resources as key supports to promote student safety and wellness.