Yvonne M. Terry-McElrath

Cannabis continues to be one of the most widely used substances among young adults (NSDUH; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2023), with data from the Monitoring t...

Violence and alcohol use are interrelated. Much of the research in this area has focused on the effects of alcohol use on later risk of violence perpetration and victimization (Branas et al., 2016;...

Using a national U.S. underage young adult sample, we examined prevalence of smoking, vaping, eating, drinking, and dabbing cannabis; perceived accessibility by product type; and perceived accessibility correlates (adolescent cannabis use, state cannabis policy context, sociodemographic characteristics). Data were obtained from young adults under age 21 participating in the U.S. national Monitoring the Future Panel study from 2019-2023. Cannabis use prevalence by smoking, vaping, edibles, drinking, and dabbing was measured (n=3,075; 52.9% female). Perceived accessibility was measured for smoking, vaping, and edibles (n=1,227; 52.1% female). Covariate and accessibility associations were modeled using logistic regression. Multiple cannabis use modalities were reported by 23.3% of all respondents and 63.5% of those reporting past-12-month use. Among all respondents, smoking (30.7%), vaping (19.7%) and edibles (18.2%) were the most prevalent; fewer reported dabbing (10.4%) or drinking (2.8%). Perceiving easy access to smoking, vaping, and edibles was reported by 95.0%, 91.3%, and 86.7% of those reporting past-12-month use (77.5%, 71.2%, and 71.8% of those reporting no use). Among those reporting no 12-month use, state recreational use policy was associated with perceiving easier access for smoking and edibles; full-time 4-year college attendance was associated with easier perceived access across modalities (vs. part-time/2-year college or not attending). Underage U.S. young adults are not legally able to purchase cannabis but reported easy access across products; those who used cannabis typically used multiple products. Among those reporting no past-12-month use, state policy and college attendance were strongly associated with perceived accessibility across products.

Background: Alcohol use is increasing among adults in midlife (i.e., ages 35–60), but few studies examine specific alcohol use behaviors in this age group. We examined measures of typical drinks, maximum drinks, binge drinking, and high‐intensity drinking by age, sex, and race/ethnicity among midlife adults, as well as the prospective association between age 18 binge drinking and midlife behaviors.Methods: Data from 5180 respondents participating in the national Monitoring the Future Panel study who were aged 35–60 in 2022 (followed since they were in 12th grade in 1980–2005) were used to estimate past 30‐day midlife drinking behaviors (i.e., typical drinks, maximum drinks, binge, and high‐intensity drinking) by age group, sex, and race/ethnicity. Associations between age 18 binge drinking status and midlife drinking outcomes were examined, as well as moderation by sociodemographic characteristics.Results: Across ages 35–60, the mean typical number of drinks on drinking days within the past month ranged from 1.4 to 1.8; the mean maximum drinks ranged from 2.3 to 3.2. Past‐month binge and high‐intensity drinking prevalence ranged from 19.1% to 31.2% and 3.6% to 8.1%, respectively. Estimates of drinking behaviors were generally higher among respondents aged 35–40 (vs. older age groups), males (vs. females), those identifying as White (vs. other racial/ethnic groups), and those who reported age 18 binge drinking (vs. not). Adolescent binge drinking was a stronger predictor of high‐intensity drinking among females than males and of typical and maximum drinks among older (age 60) than younger (age 35) respondents.Conclusion: Binge and high‐intensity drinking were reported by a meaningful percentage of the US midlife adults. Binge drinking in adolescence was a predictor of subsequent alcohol‐related risks. These long‐term connections were especially strong among females. Age 18 binge drinking was a stronger predictor of high‐intensity drinking at age 60 than earlier in midlife, underscoring that adolescent binge drinking is a key indicator of risk across the lifespan.

The extent to which adolescent substance use is associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD) symptoms in midlife is not yet fully explored.Longitudinal data from the national Monitoring the Future st...