The present study sought to inform models of risk for drugged driving through empirically identifying patterns of marijuana use, alcohol use, and related driving behaviors. Perceived dangerousness ...and consequences of drugged driving were evaluated as putative influences on risk patterns.
We used latent profile analysis of survey responses from 897 college students to identify patterns of substance use and drugged driving. We tested the hypotheses that low perceived danger and low perceived likelihood of negative consequences of drugged driving would identify individuals with higher-risk patterns.
Findings from the latent profile analysis indicated that a four-profile model provided the best model fit. Low-level engagers had low rates of substance use and drugged driving. Alcohol-centric engagers had higher rates of alcohol use but low rates of marijuana/simultaneous use and low rates of driving after substance use. Concurrent engagers had higher rates of marijuana and alcohol use, simultaneous use, and related driving behaviors, but marijuana-centric/simultaneous engagers had the highest rates of marijuana use, co-use, and related driving behaviors. Those with higher perceived danger of driving while high were more likely to be in the low-level, alcohol-centric, or concurrent engagers' profiles; individuals with higher perceived likelihood of consequences of driving while high were more likely to be in the low-level engagers group.
Findings suggested that college students' perceived dangerousness of driving after using marijuana had greater influence on drugged driving behaviors than alcohol-related driving risk perceptions. These results support targeting marijuana-impaired driving risk perceptions in young adult intervention programs.
•Young adults who engaged in HID by age 20 typically had used marijuana and nicotine before their first HID experience.•Earlier HID onset was associated with higher risk of both alcohol use disorder ...symptoms and other substance use at age 20.•Early screening for HID is crucial given links with alcohol use disorder symptoms and other substance use in young adults.
High-intensity drinking (HID; 10+ drinks/occasion) is associated with acute and long-term risks, including use of other substances. Earlier HID initiation is associated with high-risk alcohol use in young adulthood. Less is known about when HID initiation occurs relative to other substances and how it is associated with subsequent substance use. This study examined survey data from 468 respondents (35.5% female, 65.5% non-Hispanic white) who reported initiating HID by age 20. Weighted descriptive statistics of year of initiation for HID, marijuana, and nicotine were obtained. Weighted linear and logistic regressions examined associations between year and order of HID initiation and age 20 substance use (i.e., nicotine vaping, cigarette use, other tobacco use, marijuana use, marijuana vaping, simultaneous alcohol and marijuana use, and other illicit drug use) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) symptoms. Over half of participants initiated HID after marijuana (54.6%) and nicotine (54.4%). Later HID initiation was associated with fewer AUD symptoms and lower odds of all outcomes except marijuana and other illicit drug use. Initiating HID before marijuana was associated with lower odds of marijuana use outcomes and other illicit drug use at age 20. Initiating HID before nicotine was associated with lower odds of all substance use outcomes at age 20. Earlier HID initiation was associated with risk for subsequent substance use, but initiating HID earlier than other substances was not. Given its association with both alcohol-related outcomes and other substance use in young adulthood, earlier HID initiation is an important target for screening and intervention.
•Risk to faster cannabis use disorder symptom onset increased at higher potency levels.•Initiating at 4.9% showed 88% risk for symptom onset within a year.•Initiating at 12.3% showed 4.85 times ...higher risk for symptom onset within a year.•Potency did not predict progression to regular or daily cannabis use.
To determine if higher potency cannabis is associated with earlier progression to regular cannabis use, daily cannabis use, and cannabis use disorder symptom onset.
Data sources were the Michigan Longitudinal Study, an ongoing prospective, high-risk family study investigating the course and predictors for substance use disorders among youth beginning prior to school entry and time-parallel national average trends in delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (i.e., psychoactive compound in cannabis). The national average trends in delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol were used to estimate potency level for the individual. Only cannabis users were included in analyses (n = 527).
Cox regression showed an increased risk of progression from cannabis initiation to cannabis use disorder symptom onset by 1.41 times (p < .001) for each unit increase in national average delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol as compared to those not endorsing CUD symptom onset, adjusting for sex, regular use, and cohort effects. Accounting for regular use, individuals initiating cannabis at national average 4.9% delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol were at 1.88 times (p = .012) higher risk for cannabis use disorder symptom onset within one year compared to those who did not endorse CUD symptom onset, while those initiating cannabis at national average 12.3% delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol were at 4.85 times (p = .012) higher risk within one year.
This study provides prospective evidence suggesting higher potency cannabis, on average in the U.S., increases risk for onset of first cannabis use disorder symptom. Development of guidelines regarding cannabis potency is critical for reducing the costs associated with negative health outcomes.
High-intensity drinking (HID) (≥10 drinks in a row) is associated with acute negative outcomes. Identifying factors associated with HID initiation in adolescence and how it is associated with young ...adulthood outcomes can inform screening and prevention.
To identify when individuals initiate HID and speed of escalation from first drink and first binge to first HID; characteristics associated with initiation and escalation; and whether these characteristics are associated with weekly alcohol consumption, HID frequency, and symptoms of alcohol use disorder at age 20 years.
This cohort study analyzed web-based survey data from respondents in the US who reported alcohol use in the past 30 days recruited from the 2018 12th grade Monitoring the Future study and surveyed again from February 14 through April 17, 2020, at modal age 20 years in the Young Adult Daily Life Study. Only respondents who reported HID by modal age 20 years were included in the analyses.
Retrospective alcohol use initiation and self-reported alcohol use measures.
Key retrospective measures included year of initiation for alcohol, first binge (≥5 drinks), and HID (≥10 drinks). Measures at age 20 years included weekly alcohol consumption, HID frequency, and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores. Covariates included biologic sex, race and ethnicity, parental college education, family history of alcohol problems, and college status. Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression models were used, and all analyses were weighted.
Of the 451 participants with data eligible for analysis, 62.0% were male (38.0% female). On average, alcohol, binge, and HID were initiated during high school. Mean time of escalation from first drink to first HID was 1.9 (95% CI, 1.8-2.1) years and between first binge and first HID, 0.7 (95% CI, 0.6-0.8) years. Initiating HID by grade 11 (vs later) was associated with higher average weekly alcohol consumption (adjusted incidence rate ratio aIRR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.10-1.79), HID frequency (aIRR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.25-3.22), and AUDIT score (adjusted odds ratio, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.02-1.34) at age 20 years. Escalation from first binge to first HID in the same year (vs ≥1 year) was associated with higher HID frequency at age 20 years (aIRR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.06-2.61).
These findings suggest that understanding ages and patterns of HID initiation and escalation associated with particular risk may facilitate screening for adolescents and young adults.
Objective: To determine the prevalence, remission, and treatment associated with DSM-5 substance use disorders (SUDs) among young adults based on college attendance. Participants: The ...population-based sample included 2,057 young adults aged 19-23 in college/school and 1,213 not currently attending college/school who participated from April 2012 through June 2013. Methods: Face-to-face interviews were conducted as part of a cross-sectional national survey. Results: The prevalence of any past-year DSM-5 SUD was 39.6% among young adults in college and 44.5% among those not attending college. Past-year tobacco use disorder and multiple DSM-5 SUDs were more prevalent among those not attending college. Among those with prior-to-past-year SUDs, abstinent remission was low among college (1.0%) and noncollege (1.9%) young adults. Conclusions: Approximately two in five U.S. college students had at least one past-year DSM-5 SUD. Sustained abstinent remission from SUDs is extremely rare (1-2%) and the majority of those with SUDs do not receive treatment.
•Identifying as a minority was related to more difficult first semester experiences.•More social engagement was associated with greater substance use.•A less challenging transition was related to ...fewer mental health concerns.•Facing academic challenges and drinking more was related to worse mental health.
Substance use (SU) and mental health (MH) concerns often occur as students transition from high school to college and may be associated with first semester experiences.
Incoming first-year college students at a U.S., predominantly white, midwestern university were recruited for an intervention study. Participants reported on substance use, mental health, and college experiences at the end of their first semester of college (n = 781; 62.9 % female, mean age = 18.06 SD = 0.24; 77.2 % non-Hispanic white; 84.6 % heterosexual). Data for these current analyses were cross-sectional.
Identifying as Black, Indigenous, or another Person of Color, as a sexual minority, or as female was associated with more challenging first semester experiences. Social experiences that represent more social engagement were associated with greater substance use. College experiences reflecting an easier transition were associated with fewer mental health concerns. Alcohol use moderated the relation between academic challenges and mental health with stronger associations found at greater levels of alcohol use.
First semester experiences were related to student mental health and substance use, suggesting the importance of early, targeted support for students to adjust to campus life.
The purpose of this project was to identify distinct profiles of circumplex interpersonal problems, cross-validate the profiles, and examine construct validity through associations with adult ...attachment, basic psychological needs frustration, and psychological outcomes. Undergraduates at two universities provided survey data. In Study 1 (N = 469), latent profile analysis identified three distinct profiles of interpersonal problems. We labeled these: Flexible-Adaptive, Exploitable-Subservient, and Hostile-Avoidant. Construct validity analyses suggested the Flexible-Adaptive profile was distinguished from the other two by lower attachment anxiety, whereas the Hostile-Avoidant profile was distinguished from the other two by higher attachment avoidance. In Study 2 (N = 423), we conducted profile similarity analyses to cross-validate Study 1 results, following the multistep procedure proposed by Morin et al. (Organizational Research Methods, 2016, 19, p. 231). Results suggested that when the data from Study 2 were constrained to fit the profile model derived from Study 1, with respect to means, variance, and latent profile membership, the model fit was equivalent. In Study 2, further evidence of construct validity suggested that the Flexible-Adaptive profile was distinguished from the other two by lower relatedness frustration and by lower competence frustration. Additionally, the Hostile-Avoidant profile was distinguished from the Exploitable-Subservient profile by higher relatedness need frustration. Validity evidence for these profiles indicated that those with the Hostile-Avoidant profile reported the most negative psychological outcomes, followed by those with the Exploitable-Subservient profile, while those with the Flexible-Adaptive profile reported the best psychological outcomes.
Public Significance Statement
In two studies, we used interpersonal problems to identify and confirm three profiles of interpersonal problems described as Flexible-Adaptive, Exploitable-Subservient, and Hostile-Avoidant. We found that adult attachment and frustration of specific psychological needs were associated with these three interpersonal problem profiles. Finally, our results indicated that those with the Hostile-Avoidant profile reported the worst psychological outcomes, followed by those with the Exploitable-Subservient profile, and those with the Flexible-Adaptive profile reported the best psychological outcomes.
Background
This study examined whether variability in young adult drinking social settings, drinking games/drink price specials, and locations differentiated daily high‐intensity drinking (HID) ...likelihood; whether contexts varied by legal drinking age and college status (attending a 4‐year college full‐time); and whether legal drinking age and college status moderated drinking context/intensity associations.
Methods
Participants (n = 818 people, 46.3% female) were part of the Young Adult Daily Life Study in 2019 to 2022. They were originally selected because they were past 30‐day drinkers from the 2018 U.S. national probability Monitoring the Future 12th grade sample and because they reported one or more days of alcohol use during 14‐day data collection bursts across the following 4 years (n = 5080 drinking days). Weighted multilevel modeling was used to estimate drinking context/intensity associations. Drinking intensity was defined as moderate (females 1 to 3, males 1 to 4 drinks), binge (4 to 7, 5 to 9 drinks), or HID (8+, 10+ drinks). Models controlled for other within‐person (weekend, historical time period) and between‐person (sex and race/ethnicity) covariates.
Results
Contexts differentiating HID and binge drinking days included drinking with large groups, strangers, pregaming, drinking games, and more drinking locations. Legal drinking age was associated with lower odds of free drinks but greater odds of drinking at bars/restaurants. College status was associated with lower odds of drinking alone or free drinks, but greater odds of drinking with friends, large groups, pregaming, drinking games, discounted price drinks, and at bars/restaurants, parties, and more drinking locations. Legal drinking age and college status moderated some context‐intensity associations.
Conclusions
Social settings, pregaming, drinking games, and drinking at more locations were associated with increased risk of HID on a given day. Legal drinking age and college status were associated with specific drinking contexts and moderated some context/intensity associations. Incorporating the contexts associated with HID into interventions may help to reduce HID and related consequences in young adults.
Among young adults, contexts differentiating high‐intensity drinking days and binge drinking days included drinking with large groups, strangers, pre‐gaming, drinking games, and more drinking locations. Being under legal drinking age was associated with greater odds of free drinks and lower odds of drinking at bars/restaurants. College attendance was associated with drinking with friends, large groups, pre‐gaming, drinking games, discounted price drinks, at bars/restaurants, parties, and more drinking locations; not attending college was associated with drinking alone and free drinks.
Simultaneous alcohol and marijuana (SAM) use is reported to be associated with heavier alcohol and marijuana use and more negative consequences, but less is known about the social, physical, and ...temporal contexts of SAM use.
Young adults (
= 326, 51.2% male, 49.1% White non-Hispanic) who reported past-month SAM use completed up to 14 daily surveys across five bursts that assessed SAM use and negative consequences and social, physical, and temporal contexts. We used multilevel models to examine SAM use contexts' associations with alcohol/marijuana quantity and consequences.
The social context of alone only (vs. with others only) was associated with consuming fewer drinks. 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 (vs. only at home) 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 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 and 9 P.M. was associated with more hours high.
SAM use contexts such as using with others, using outside the home, and using earlier in the evening are typically associated with greater alcohol/marijuana quantity and consequences.