Co-Use of Alcohol and Cannabis

Longitudinal Associations with Mental Health Outcomes in Young Adulthood

Bibliographic Data

ID15469033
AuthorsKara Thompson (0000-0002-7441-0761, St. Francis Xavier University, corresponding author), Maria Holley (St. Francis Xavier University), Clea Sturgess (University of Victoria), Bonnie J Leadbeater (0000-0003-0236-6658, University of Victoria), Bonnie Leadbeater (University of Victoria)
Year2021
Volume18
Issue7
Pages3652-3652
Publication date2021-03-31
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph18073652
PMID33807491
OpenAlexW3146106473
LanguageEN
Citations received13
References cited25

Increases in cannabis use among young people has heightened concern about the potential interactive health effects of cannabis with other drugs. We examined the longitudinal association between concurrent and simultaneous (SAM) co-use of alcohol and cannabis in young adulthood on mental health symptoms, substance use behaviors, and substance-related harms two years later. Data were drawn from Time 5 (T5; n = 464; 46% male) and 6 (T6; n = 478; 45% male) of the Victoria Healthy Youth Survey. At T5, 42% of participants used alcohol-only, 13% used concurrently, 41% used SAM, 1% were cannabis only users, and 3% abstained from cannabis and alcohol. Boys were more likely to use SAM. Higher T5 SAM use frequency was associated with heavier use of substances, more substance-related harms, and symptoms of psychosis and externalizing problems at T6. T5 Concurrent use was associated with conduct symptoms, illicit drug use, and alcohol use disorders at T6 relative to alcohol-only use. Cannabis is commonly used with alcohol and the findings suggest that any co-use (concurrent or simultaneous) may be problematic in young adulthood. Public health messages need to explicitly inform consumers about the possible consequences of using both alcohol and marijuana and the addictive pharmacological impact of using them together

Addiction · Alcohol · Cannabis · Drug · Environmental health · Injury prevention · Longitudinal study · Mental health · Poison control · Polysubstance dependence · Psychiatry · Substance use · Young adult · Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research · Clinical Psychology · Homelessness and Social Issues · Medicine · Psychology · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes · Gerontology

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access