Among young adults, alcohol and cannabis are the most used psychoactive substances in the US. Simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use is when the effects of each substance overlap. This study focused on concurrent use, concurrent use means within the same timeframe, which can lead to higher levels of intoxication and more negative consequences. Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) are cognitive-behavioral strategies used before, during, after, or instead of substance use. Setting a limit on the number of drinks one has one night or having a designated driver are examples of PBS. The goal of these behaviors is to lower the harms and negative consequences that are associated with alcohol and cannabis use.
This study aimed to identify subpopulations of concurrent users of alcohol and cannabis in hopes of understanding the co-use of alcohol and cannabis PBS and how different PBS can lead to different outcomes. Two studies were conducted. Study 1 consisted of 5,494 students, while Study 2 consisted of 7,307 from 10 universities spanning 8 states. Analyses were based on those students that consumed both alcohol and cannabis in the past month. Study 1 was 1,102 students, and study 2 was 2,034. The Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale was used to assess the frequency of alcohol PBS use. 17-item Protective Behavioral Strategies was used to assess marijuana PBS use.
This study’s findings suggested that concurrent-using college students are more likely to use cannabis PBS more frequently if they used alcohol more frequently and vice versus. This study and others help support the idea that college students could benefit from targeting protective behaviors for alcohol and cannabis. The study also showed that the more one uses alcohol and cannabis PBS the more protected they were from negative consequences of alcohol and cannabis concurrent use. Understanding the co-use of alcohol and cannabis PBS can help create and inform intervention for concurrent and simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use.
Takeaway: Use of protective behavioral strategies (PBS) before, during, or after alcohol and cannabis use further protects individuals from negative consequences. Understanding PBS can help create new interventions for concurrent and simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use.