Search

Background: Recreational cannabis laws (RCLs) may have spillover effects on binge drinking. Our aims were to investigate binge drinking time trends and the association between RCLs and changes in binge drinking in the United States (U.S.)., Methods: We used restricted National Survey on Drug Use and Health data (2008-2019). We examined trends in the prevalence of past-month binge drinking by age groups (12-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51+). Then, we compared model-based prevalences of past-month binge drinking before and after RCL by age group, using multi-level logistic regression with state random intercepts, an RCL by age group interaction term, and controlling for state alcohol policies., Results: Binge drinking declined overall from 2008 to 2019 among people aged 12-20 (17.54% to 11.08%), and those aged 21-30 (43.66% to 40.22%). However, binge drinking increased among people aged 31+ (ages 31-40: 28.11% to 33.34%, ages 41-50: 25.48% to 28.32%, ages 51+: 13.28% to 16.75%). When investigating model-based prevalences after versus before RCL, binge drinking decreased among people aged 12-20 (prevalence difference=-4.8%; adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=0.77, [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.70-0.85]), and increased among participants aged 31-40 (+1.7%; 1.09[1.01-1.26]), 41-50 (+2.5; 1.15[1.05-1.26]) and 51+ (+1.8%; 1.17[1.06-1.30]). No RCL-related changes were noted in respondents ages 21-30., Conclusions: Implementation of RCLs was associated with increased past-month binge drinking in adults aged 31+ and decreased past-month binge drinking in those aged < 21. As the cannabis legislative landscape continues to change in the U.S., efforts to minimize harms related to binge drinking are critical., Competing Interests: Declarations of Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cannabis use and binge drinking are increasingly common in the United States, yet little is known about cannabis use patterns among people who engage in binge drinking. This study explored the relationship between several cannabis use outcomes and past-month binge drinking status. Pooled 2015-2018 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health data (N = 226,632) were used to explore the hypothesis that binge drinking is associated with higher prevalence of cannabis outcomes. Cannabis outcomes included past-month and past-year use, daily/almost daily use, and past-year DSM-IV/DSM-5 cannabis use disorder (CUD). Covariates included age, gender, race, total income, and study year. Separate weighted multivariable logistic regressions assessed associations between binge drinking and each cannabis outcome and provided adjusted prevalences of cannabis outcomes by binge drinking status. Past-month binge drinking was positively associated with past-month (OR: 3.72, 95 %CI: 3.56-3.93) and past-year (OR: 3.90, 95 %CI: 3.74-4.06) cannabis use in adjusted regressions. The adjusted odds of DSM-IV and DSM-5 CUD among people who used cannabis were 15 % and 12 % higher among people who engaged in binge drinking than those who did not, respectively (OR: 1.15, 95 %CI: 1.05, 1.26 and OR: 1.12, 95 %CI: 1.03, 1.21). Conversely, the odds of past-month daily cannabis use among people who used cannabis and reported binge drinking was 18 % lower than those who did not (OR: 0.82, 95 %CI: 0.74, 0.91). Our findings provide evidence of associations between binge drinking and cannabis use. Future studies should explore associations between cannabis and other alcohol use behaviors, including heavy drinking, and simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Young adults' cannabis and alcohol use patterns have changed after state recreational cannabis legalization according to studies based on college samples but not nationally representative samples. Associations between recreational cannabis legalization and changes in cannabis and alcohol use outcomes among young adults were examined, including differences by college enrollment and minor status (ages 18–20 vs 21–23 years). Repeated cross-sectional data (2008–2019) were collected from college-eligible participants aged 18–23 years in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Self-reported past-month cannabis use and frequent use (≥20 days) and a proxy for past-year DSM-5 cannabis use disorder were primary outcomes; past-month frequent alcohol use and binge drinking were secondary outcomes. Multilevel logistic regression models quantified changes in outcome prevalence from the study years before to after recreational cannabis legalization, adjusting for secular trends. Analyses were conducted on March 22, 2022. Prevalence increased from before to after recreational cannabis legalization for past-month cannabis use (from 21% to 25%) and past-year proxy cannabis use disorder (from 11% to 13%); the increases were statistically significant [adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) = 1.20 (1.08–1.32) and 1.14 (1.003–1.30), respectively]. Increases were detected for young adults who were not in college and who were aged 21–23 years. Recreational cannabis legalization impacts were not detected for secondary outcomes. Some young adults appear sensitive to state recreational cannabis legalization, including in terms of cannabis use disorder risk. Additional prevention efforts should be directed to young adults who are not in college and timed to occur before age 21 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]