Research & Resources

This study aimed to gather qualitative data on physical, social, and situational characteristics of simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use among young adults. Participants were 36 heavy-drinking young adults who engaged in simultaneous use at least twice during the past 30 days. Findings indicated that young adults are selective of where and with whom they engage in simultaneous use. Young adults were more likely to engage in simultaneous use in familiar and safe locations, at parties, around close peers, and when others are approving of or also engaging in simultaneous use so their effects overlap. They were less likely to engage in simultaneous use when in public spaces, around family, or alone. Other situational characteristics associated with simultaneous use included having access to alcohol or cannabis, being a weekend or evening, pregaming, and using cannabis at the end of a drinking occasion. Researchers emphasized the need to examine multiple characteristics of the context to identify specific contexts with an increased risk of simultaneous use.

This paper, “Insights into the context of simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use among young adults,” was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and published in the journal Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology.