Profiles of Alcohol and Marijuana Use Among Simultaneous Alcohol and Marijuana Users: Individual Differences in Demographics and Substance Use

• Author: Hannah K. Allen,Ashley N. Linden-Carmichael
• Published date: 01 April 2021
• Date: 01 April 2021
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0022042620979617
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/0022042620979617

Journal of Drug Issues

2021, Vol. 51(2) 239 –248

© The Author(s) 2020

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DOI: 10.1177/0022042620979617

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Article

Profiles of Alcohol and Marijuana

Use Among Simultaneous Alcohol

and Marijuana Users: Individual

Differences in Demographics

and Substance Use

Ashley N. Linden-Carmichael1 and Hannah K. Allen1

Abstract

Simultaneous alcohol and marijuana (SAM) use—or use of both substances with overlapping

effects—is common among emerging adults and is linked to increased risk for problematic

substance use outcomes. The current study identified subgroups of emerging adult SAM

users based on their typical alcohol and marijuana use patterns and compared groups on key

individual characteristics. Latent profile analysis uncovered four profiles of SAM users (n = 522):

Light Users (LU; 49.0%), Moderate Drinkers With Frequent Marijuana Use (MDFM; 37.9%),

Moderate Drinkers With High Peak Levels (MDHP; 5.4%), and Heavy/Frequent Users (HFU;

7.7%). Group differences by demographic characteristics were found, with LU more likely to

be college attendees/graduates than MDFM. In addition, HFU were more likely to be Greek-

affiliated than both LU and MDFM. Groups also differed based on other drug use behavior and

preferred route of marijuana administration. Findings demonstrate diversity among SAM users

based on typical substance use patterns.

Keywords

simultaneous alcohol and marijuana use, substance use, emerging adults, MTurk, latent

profile analysis

Simultaneous alcohol and marijuana (SAM) use—or the use of alcohol and marijuana such that

the effects overlap—is prevalent among emerging adult drinkers (White et al., 2019) with 30%

of emerging adult drinkers reporting SAM use (Terry-McElrath & Patrick, 2018). Relative to

individuals who use alcohol but not marijuana, SAM users are at greater risk for heavy substance

use (Linden-Carmichael et al., 2019), driving under the influence (Subbaraman & Kerr, 2015),

alcohol-related accidents (Arterberry et al., 2017), academic problems (Brière et al., 2011), and

alcohol use disorder symptoms (Midanik et al., 2007). Recent evidence points to historical

increases in SAM use among individuals in this age group (Terry-McElrath & Patrick, 2018). As

brief motivational interventions aimed at reducing the combined use of alcohol and marijuana

have been unsuccessful (Stein et al., 2018), the development of prevention and intervention

efforts targeting SAM use is critically needed.

1Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA

Corresponding Author:

Ashley N. Linden-Carmichael, Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, College of Health and Human

Development, Pennsylvania State University, 320E Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA.

Email: ALindenCarmichael@psu.edu

979617JODXXX10.1177/0022042620979617Journal of Drug IssuesLinden-Carmichael and Allen

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