Changes in Alcohol and Marijuana Abstinence, Co-Use, and Use Disorders Among Young Adults
In this
study, researchers analyzed changes over time in past-year alcohol and
marijuana abstinence, co-use, alcohol use disorder, and marijuana use disorder
among young adults in the United States as a function of college status. Between
2002 and 2018, there was an annual increase in past-year alcohol abstinence
among young adults. There was an annual increase in marijuana use from 2002 to
2018 without an increase in marijuana use disorder for all young adults.
Past-year alcohol use disorder decreased annually, while co-use of alcohol and
marijuana increased annually between 2002 and 2018 among all young adults. Young
adults who reported co-use of alcohol and marijuana or met criteria for alcohol
use disorder and/or marijuana use disorder accounted for 82.9 percent of young
adults with prescription drug use disorder and 85.1 percent of those with
illicit drug use disorder. More than three-fourths of those with both alcohol
use disorder and marijuana use disorder reported past-year prescription drug
use (78.2 percent) and illicit drug use (77.7 percent); 62.2 percent reported
prescription drug misuse. Findings suggest that colleges and communities in the
United States should create and maintain supportive resources for young adults
as the substance use landscape changes; specifically, as alcohol abstinence,
marijuana use, and co-use increase.
This paper, “Assessment
of Changes in Alcohol and Marijuana Abstinence, Co-Use, and Use Disorders Among
US Young Adults From 2002 to 2018,” was funded by the National Institute on Drug
Abuse and published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.
Link to full item