Research & Resources

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.