Previous research has shown that protective behavioral strategies (PBS) are useful in mediating effects of risk factors for marijuana and alcohol use such as sex, age of substance use onset, beliefs, motives, and impulsivity. A recent study investigated how PBS operates for students who are users of both alcohol and marijuana.
A sample of over 2,000 students who had consumed both alcohol and marijuana at least once in the past month completed an online survey. They included information about their specific risk factors and past-month use of PBS such as avoiding shots of liquor, planning how much one will drink in a night, etc.
The results showed that students who used PBS were significantly less likely to experience negative consequences from alcohol and marijuana use or exhibit symptoms of use disorders. More PBS use was associated with being female and being older when initiating substance use. Alcohol PBS use decreased the likelihood of students drinking with social and enhancement motives, and marijuana PBS use mediated the effects of using marijuana to cope and to conform to others.
Take Away: The use of PBS is an important intervention in college students who use alcohol and marijuana. Use of PBS has unique outcomes for each substance.