Rates of cannabis use and psychedelic use have increased over the past few years. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has estimated that roughly 271 million people have used illicit drugs in the past year, and of those, 25 million met the criteria for a substance use disorder. Substance use disorders have been acknowledged to be a result of multiple factors, such as biological, physiological, and social factors, in addition to the substance use itself. This article aims to explore potential patterns of polysubstance use and associated patterns.
This study consists of 544 participants. The participants were all between the ages of 18 and 30 years old and used psychoactive substances at least three times in the past year. Recruitment for this study occurred between March and June 2021, and participants completed online surveys. Substance use frequency was measured by asking a question with a 6-point response scale. Two questions measured substance use setting. The study also measured substance use outcomes, health indicators (such as the history of mental health disorder), and individual variables (protective behavioral strategies, self-regulation, self-efficacy, Big-FIVE personality traits, motives of substance use, etc.)
The results of this study identified five profiles of polysubstance use patterns. The indicators of substance use setting defined these profiles. Among the profiles, the use of cannabis did not differentiate between them. Overall, the findings of this study showed that individuals who are using multiple substances across multiple social settings do not necessarily correlate to more negative outcomes than individuals who use specific substances most frequently alone. Use that causes dissociation or separation from others is associated with a more unique polysubstance use profile with the most negative outcomes.
Takeaway: Substance use that causes dissociation or separation from others is associated with a more unique polysubstance use profile with the most negative outcomes.