The use of cannabis consumption in the United States continues to increase as accessibility to the substance expands and as societal norms regarding its use shift. College students and young adults consume cannabis at the highest rates of all demographics leading research teams to investigate the effects, motivations, and beliefs surrounding young adult cannabis use. While the health effect profile of cannabis is being developed with greater clarity and consistency, the psychosocial influences regarding the behavior are not well-understood. This longitudinal study investigated self-reported reasons for cannabis use in young adults, in addition to utilizing latent transition analysis to model shifts in users from different cannabis use profiles.
The study’s sample is pulled from a national data pool accumulated as part of the ongoing Monitoring the Future project which tracks substance use data in young adults beginning at 18 years of age. Longitudinal survey response data from 7294 participants initiated between 1976 and 2009 were used according to the following eligibility criteria: reporting past-year cannabis use at age 19/20, 21/22, or 23/24; reporting at least one reason for cannabis use at one of the aforementioned age points; reporting age of initiation parent education status, and general demographics. Individuals were grouped according to classes describing their motivations and reasons for use. Cannabis use was measured using Likert-style frequency report scales, and cannabis use reasons were measured using a 13-item dichotomized questionnaire. The data was analyzed using latent transition and latent class analysis.
Results of the analysis found that individuals who used cannabis for reasons titled “Get High and Relax” or “Escape and Cope” were most likely to not change their use motivations over time (upon follow-up), were more likely to have younger ages of initiation, and frequently reported non-college attending parents. Non-users who eventually reported cannabis use were most likely to transition to be “Experimental” users over time. “Experimental” users who shifted to a different classification were most likely to switch to the non-user class. Those classified in the “Typical Reasons” class often transitioned to the non-user or “Get High and Relax” class.
Takeaway: cannabis use motivations and reasons may change over time in young adults due to several factors including age of initiation and parent education status. Additional research will be needed as cannabis use continues to grow in the United States.