Research & Resources

Researchers in this study analyzed the physical, social, and temporal contexts of simultaneous alcohol and marijuana (SAM) use among 326 young adults who reported past-month SAM use. Participants completed up to 14 daily surveys across five bursts that assessed SAM use and negative consequences and physical, social, and temporal contexts. Physical contexts that included using both at home and outside the home (vs. only at home) were associated with greater alcohol and marijuana quantity and negative consequences (but not after controlling for alcohol quantity); use outside the home only was associated with more alcohol use, more alcohol consequences (but not after controlling for alcohol quantity), and fewer marijuana consequences (even after controlling for marijuana quantity). The social context of alone only (vs. with others only) was associated with consuming fewer drinks. The temporal context of first engaging in SAM use before 6 p.m. (vs. after 9 p.m.) was associated with greater alcohol and marijuana quantity and more marijuana consequences (but not after controlling for number of hours high), and first engaging in SAM use between 6–9 p.m. was associated with more hours high. Researchers concluded that SAM use contexts such as using outside the home, using with others, and using earlier in the evening are typically associated with greater alcohol and marijuana quantity and consequences.

This paper, “Young adult physical, social, and temporal contexts of simultaneous alcohol and marijuana use,” was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and published in the Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs.