Andrea H Weinberger1,2, Jiaqi Zhu3, Jacob Levin1, Scott J Moeller4, Sherry A McKee5, Renee D Goodwin3,6. 1. Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University, Bronx, New York, USA. 2. Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA. 3. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, The City University of New York, New York, New York, USA. 4. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA. 5. Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. 6. Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The majority of adolescents and young adults (AYA) who use cannabis also use alcohol. Although cannabis use is increasing in the United States (US), it is not known whether the increase contributes to either increased co-use of alcohol and cannabis (e.g., complementarity) or replacement of alcohol with cannabis (e.g., substitution). The current study estimated the prevalence of alcohol use by cannabis use status among US AYA ages 12 to 25 in 2018 and trends in alcohol use by cannabis use status from 2002 to 2018. METHODS: Data were drawn from the 2002 to 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health public use data files. The analytic sample included AYA ages 12 to 25 (2018 sample, n = 26,924; total combined sample 2002 to 2018, n = 576,053). Linear and logistic regression models were used to estimate past-month alcohol use, daily alcohol use, and average quantity of alcohol consumed among AYA with and without past-month cannabis use from 2002 to 2018. RESULTS: In 2018, any alcohol use and daily alcohol use were significantly more common among AYA who used cannabis use than those who did not use cannabis. Overall, any alcohol use, daily alcohol use, and average drinks per day declined from 2002 to 2018 among AYA irrespective of recent cannabis use. However, the decline in any alcohol use, daily alcohol use, and average alcohol drinks per day was more rapid among AYA who used cannabis (daily and nondaily) than those who did not use cannabis. The rate of decline in average alcohol drinks per day was also higher among AYA with daily compared to nondaily cannabis use. CONCLUSIONS: Even with declines in alcohol use over time, drinking is much more common among AYA who report cannabis than those without recent cannabis use, which is consistent with complementarity. Yet, because the decline in alcohol use has been more rapid among AYA who use cannabis, there is also evidence of substitution. Thus, the current data on alcohol and cannabis use are consistent with both complementarity and substitution. However, these relationships may change as cannabis legalization expands over time.
BACKGROUND: The majority of adolescents and young adults (AYA) who use cannabis also use alcohol. Although cannabis use is increasing in the United States (US), it is not known whether the increase contributes to either increased co-use of alcohol and cannabis (e.g., complementarity) or replacement of alcohol with cannabis (e.g., substitution). The current study estimated the prevalence of alcohol use by cannabis use status among US AYA ages 12 to 25 in 2018 and trends in alcohol use by cannabis use status from 2002 to 2018. METHODS: Data were drawn from the 2002 to 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health public use data files. The analytic sample included AYA ages 12 to 25 (2018 sample, n = 26,924; total combined sample 2002 to 2018, n = 576,053). Linear and logistic regression models were used to estimate past-month alcohol use, daily alcohol use, and average quantity of alcohol consumed among AYA with and without past-month cannabis use from 2002 to 2018. RESULTS: In 2018, any alcohol use and daily alcohol use were significantly more common among AYA who used cannabis use than those who did not use cannabis. Overall, any alcohol use, daily alcohol use, and average drinks per day declined from 2002 to 2018 among AYA irrespective of recent cannabis use. However, the decline in any alcohol use, daily alcohol use, and average alcohol drinks per day was more rapid among AYA who used cannabis (daily and nondaily) than those who did not use cannabis. The rate of decline in average alcohol drinks per day was also higher among AYA with daily compared to nondaily cannabis use. CONCLUSIONS: Even with declines in alcohol use over time, drinking is much more common among AYA who report cannabis than those without recent cannabis use, which is consistent with complementarity. Yet, because the decline in alcohol use has been more rapid among AYA who use cannabis, there is also evidence of substitution. Thus, the current data on alcohol and cannabis use are consistent with both complementarity and substitution. However, these relationships may change as cannabis legalization expands over time.
Authors: Katarina Guttmannova; Christine M Lee; Jason R Kilmer; Charles B Fleming; Isaac C Rhew; Rick Kosterman; Mary E Larimer Journal: Alcohol Clin Exp Res Date: 2015-12-21 Impact factor: 3.455
Authors: Bridget F Grant; S Patricia Chou; Tulshi D Saha; Roger P Pickering; Bradley T Kerridge; W June Ruan; Boji Huang; Jeesun Jung; Haitao Zhang; Amy Fan; Deborah S Hasin Journal: JAMA Psychiatry Date: 2017-09-01 Impact factor: 21.596
Authors: Laura Kann; Tim McManus; William A Harris; Shari L Shanklin; Katherine H Flint; Barbara Queen; Richard Lowry; David Chyen; Lisa Whittle; Jemekia Thornton; Connie Lim; Denise Bradford; Yoshimi Yamakawa; Michelle Leon; Nancy Brener; Kathleen A Ethier Journal: MMWR Surveill Summ Date: 2018-06-15