More than just Alcohol: Marijuana and Illicit Drug Use at Parties Attended by 15–20 Year Olds. (28th January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Egan, Kathleen L.; Suerken, Cynthia; Debinski, Beata; Reboussin, Beth A.; Wagoner, Kimberly G.; Sutfin, Erin L.; Wolfson, Mark
• Is Part Of: Substance use & misuse. Volume 54:Number 2(2019)
• Page Start: 297
• Page End: 306
• Publication Date: 2019-01-28
• Subjects: Alcohol -- marijuana -- illicit drug -- prescription drug -- context -- party -- legalization; Narcotic habit -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Behavior, Addictive -- Periodicals; Sustance-Related Disorders -- Periodicals; 362.2905
• DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2018.1517798
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1082-6084

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Parties are a common setting for marijuana and illicit drug use among adolescents. Objectives: This study examined the context of parties with alcohol, marijuana and illicit drug use attended by adolescents and young adults. Methods: In 2016, an address-based sample of 1, 764 15-20-year-olds in 24 U.S. communities participated in an online survey. Parties were categorized as alcohol-only (Alc-only), marijuana + alcohol (Mj + Alc), and illicit + marijuana + alcohol (ID + Mj + Alc) based on survey participants' observations and self-reported drug use at the last party attended. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify correlates of substance use at parties. Results: 1, 089 participants (61.7%) reported ever attending a party where alcohol was consumed. Of those, 60.1% reported that the last party they attended had Alc-only, 24.9% had Mj + Alc, and 10.0% had ID + Mj + Alc. Older participants were more likely to attend a party with Mj + Alc or ID + Mj + Alc. Participants whose mother had a college degree (compared to less than a college degree) were less likely to attend a party with ID + Mj + Alc. Parties with Mj + Alc and ID + Mj + Alc were larger and the majority of attendees were under 21. Parties with ID + Mj + Alc were more likely to be majority female compared to mixed gender. Parties with Mj + Alc were more likely to occur at someone else's home and be in states where medical and recreational marijuana use was legal. Conclusion: One-third of parties attended by 15-20-year-olds had marijuana and/or illicit drug use in addition to alcohol consumption. The identified risk factors of parties with marijuana and illicit drug use can be used to develop targeted prevention strategies.