MedPath

Detection of Cannabis Impairment With an Eye Tracker

Phase 1
Completed
Conditions
Cannabis Intoxication
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT03813602
Lead Sponsor
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Brief Summary

Cannabis is one of the widely used psychoactive substances in the world. With increasing legalization, the prevalence of driving under the influence of cannabis will undoubtedly rise. At present, roadside detection of cannabis intoxication is largely dependent on drug recognition experts who rely on changes in eye movements when impaired. In this regard, use of eye trackers can help to detect impairment in drivers. The purpose of the present study is to determine the feasibility of the use of eye trackers in detecting impairment in participants who smoked a cannabis cigarette.

Detailed Description

Participants will attend one study session after determination of eligibility. During this session, they will smoke a cannabis cigarette with 12.5% THC prior to driving a simulator. Driving will be assessed prior to smoking cannabis and at 7 time points after smoking cannabis. Eye tracking measures will also be taken while driving after smoking cannabis. Blood will be drawn for determination of levels of the psychoactive substance THC and its metabolites. Saliva tests, urine tests and subjective tests will also be performed at various times points after smoking cannabis.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
10
Inclusion Criteria
  • Weekly use of cannabis (1 to 4 days per week) confirmed by urine point-of-care testing;
  • 19-26 years of age;
  • holds a class G or G2 Ontario driver's licence (or equivalent from another jurisdiction) for at least 12 months;
  • Willing to abstain from using alcohol for 48 hours and cannabis for 72 hours prior to the study session;
  • Willing to abstain from all other drugs not prescribed for medical purposes for the duration of the study;
  • Provides written and informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Urine toxicology screens negative for cannabis upon eligibility assessment;
  • Diagnosis of severe medical or psychiatric conditions;
  • Females: Pregnancy or breastfeeding;
  • Meets criteria for Alcohol or Substance Dependence (current or lifetime) (DSM-IV);
  • Is a regular user of medications that affect brain function (i.e., antidepressants, benzodiazepines, stimulants);
  • First-degree relative diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Cannabis sativaCannabis Sativaa 750 mg cannabis cigarette with 12.5% THC
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in eye gazebaseline, 15 minutes, 35 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

Measures of eye movement with an eye tracker

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in blood concentrations of carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinolbaseline, 5 minutes, 25 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

The levels of the inactive metabolite of THC in blood

Change in blood concentrations of 11-hydroxy-tetrahydrocannabinolbaseline, 5 minutes, 25 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

The levels of the active metabolite of THC in blood

Change in number of collisionsbaseline, 15 minutes, 35 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

The number of times a car impacts another car while driving the simulator

Change in minimum time to collision on the driving simulatorbaseline, 15 minutes, 35 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

The time needed to collide with the car in front, while driving the simulator

Change in saccadesbaseline, 15 minutes, 35 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

Measures of quick eye movements with an eye tracker

Change in blinking speedbaseline, 15 minutes, 35 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

How fast the blinking is, measured with an eye tracker

Change in pupil sizebaseline, 15 minutes, 35 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

The diameter of pupils while driving, measured with an eye tracker

Change in eye fixationsbaseline, 15 minutes, 35 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

Measure of where the eye is looking with an eye tracker

Change in blinking ratebaseline, 15 minutes, 35 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

The number of blinks, measured with an eye tracker

Change in blinking durationbaseline, 15 minutes, 35 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

The length of time that blinks last, measured with a eye tracker

Change in mean speed on the driving simulatorbaseline, 15 minutes, 35 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

The speed, in km, while driving a driving simulator

Change in standard deviation of speed on the driving simulatorbaseline, 15 minutes, 35 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

The amount of variation in speed while driving the driving simulator

Change in heart ratebaseline, 5 minutes, 25 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

Vital signs

Change in temperaturebaseline, 5 minutes, 25 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

Vital signs

Change in number of respirations per minutebaseline, 5 minutes, 25 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

Vital signs

Change in maximum speed on the driving simulatorbaseline, 15 minutes, 35 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

The greatest speed obtained on the driving simulator

Change in standard deviation of lateral position on the driving simulatorbaseline, 15 minutes, 35 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

The amount of weaving while driving the driving simulator

Change in saliva THC detectionbaseline, 5 minutes, 25 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

Detection of THC in saliva

Change in diastolic blood pressurebaseline, 5 minutes, 25 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

Vital signs

Change in blood concentrations of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinolbaseline, 5 minutes, 25 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

The levels of the psychoactive component of cannabis, THC, in blood

Change in systolic blood pressurebaseline, 5 minutes, 25 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

Vital signs

Change in Subjective cannabis effects with a visual analog scalebaseline, 5 minutes, 25 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours

The amount of liking of cannabis from 0 to 100, with 100 being the greatest value

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Center for Addiction and Mental Health

🇨🇦

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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