Behavioral Economic Demand for Alcohol among Young Adults who Engage in Simultaneous Alcohol and Marijuana Use
Year: 2019
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Young adults (YAs) who engage in simultaneous alcohol and marijuana use (SAM) may combine substances due to enhanced subjective effects, and as a result, may place greater value (e.g., spend more resources) on alcohol relative to YAs who consume alcohol but do not engage in SAM. The aim of the current study was to evaluate behavioral economic demand for alcohol among YAs who reported SAM ( n = 101) relative to alcohol use only ( n = 316), and concurrent alcohol and marijuana use (CAM; n = 63). Methods: YAs (18–25 years old) recruited from the community completed an online assessment that included the Alcohol Purchase Task as well as past month alcohol, marijuana, and SAM use. Results: Analyses of covariance demonstrated that YAs who reported SAM had significantly higher O max values (maximum overall expenditures on alcohol) than those who reported CAM, and both YAs who reported SAM and alcohol-only had significantly higher P max values (maximum inelastic price per drink) than YAs who reported CAM. Conclusions: YAs that engage in SAM show an increased willingness to spend resources on alcohol. Elevated demand is not associated with concurrent use of multiple substances, but rather the combined (i.e., overlapping) use of substances.
Source: Substance Abuse
Institution: University of Washington
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: Iterative intervention development for high-risk teen alcohol use: A multi-method, multi-level examination of engagement in substance-free activities and high-risk alcohol and substance use, Developmental Models of High-Risk Alcohol Use & Social Roles in Young Adulthood, Cannabis Identity as Cognitive and Developmental Risk Factors For Adolescent Cannabis Misuse
OpenAlex ID: W2982105014