Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Three minutes.
That’s all the time inventors of the new DRUID app say drivers need to test themselves for alcohol, cannabis, or sleep impairment before they get behind the wheel.
The app applies neuroscience to determine a person’s level of cognitive and motor impairment more accurately.
DRUID has the potential to lower the chance of accidents or injuries involving impaired drivers. The app also could help provide an answer for law enforcement agencies searching for a way to measure the level of impairment in drivers.
The app, which received an Innovation Research Grant from The National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Drug Abuse last year, assesses a user’s level of cognitive and motor impairment due to any cause through a video game-like test.
RELATED: Yes, THC Can Impair Driving Skills — But Not For Everyone
Research is promising
Dr. Michael Milburn, a professor of psychology for almost 40 years at the University of Massachusetts/Boston, first developed the Druid app idea in 2016. His company Impairment Science Inc, launched the app in 2018 and has gone through two rigorous studies since.
In one study, funded by the grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH), DRUID collaborated with researchers at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine to prove the accuracy, sensitivity and validity of DRUID to detect cannabis impairment. The findings are published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.
In a second study, that involved using Massachusetts State Troopers as subjects, the Druid app proved its ability to detect impairment due to alcohol.
“Recognizing that impairment due to any other cause affects cognitive and motor functions in the same way they are affected by cannabis and alcohol, the company made Druid available to detect impairment generally,” said a company spokesperson.
RELATED: A Breathalyzer Test For Cannabis? These Scientists Think They Have It
How the DRUID app works
Using cognitive neuroscience, the DRUID app scores a user’s performance on tasks presented much like a video game. The app assesses impairment by measuring the person’s reaction time, hand-eye coordination, time estimation, balance, and ability to do divided attention tasks.
The test takes about three minutes, during which the app records hundreds of neurophysiological indicators to detect cognitive and motor impairment. The studies have shown it delivers fast, accurate results. Impairment Science is marketing the app for individuals and employers concerned about impairment, such as when employees use company vehicles or equipment.
“The emphasis on collecting biological fluids misunderstands the way THC can remain in the body long after impairment is gone. Drug tests measure exposure, not impairment,” Milton explained in the release.
Follow dispensaries.com on Instagram to stay up to date on the latest cannabis news.
