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Co-Use of Alcohol and Cannabis: Longitudinal Associations with Mental Health Outcomes in Young Adulthood

Author

Listed:
  • Kara Thompson

    (Department of Psychology, St. Francis Xavier University, 103 Annex, 2323 Notre Dame Ave., Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5, Canada)

  • Maria Holley

    (Department of Psychology, St. Francis Xavier University, 103 Annex, 2323 Notre Dame Ave., Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5, Canada)

  • Clea Sturgess

    (Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Greater Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada)

  • Bonnie Leadbeater

    (Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Greater Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Kara Thompson & Maria Holley & Clea Sturgess & Bonnie Leadbeater, 2021. "Co-Use of Alcohol and Cannabis: Longitudinal Associations with Mental Health Outcomes in Young Adulthood," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-11, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:7:p:3652-:d:527770
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Orit Shapiro & Riki Tesler & Sharon Barak & Lilach Ben-Meir & Ariela Giladi & Rachel Nissanholtz-Gannot & Gizell Green & Moti Zwilling & Avi Zigdon & Yossi Harel-Fisch, 2022. "A Biopsychosocial Approach to Examining Alcohol Consumption among Youth during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-15, November.
    2. John P. Hoffmann, 2022. "Family Structure, Unstructured Socializing, and Heavy Substance Use among Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-19, July.

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