Youth Opioid Prevention
By Higher Education Center - February 20, 2023
A recent survey in the United States found that 62% of college students use alcohol and 26% use cannabis. In addition, many college students use alcohol and cannabis simultaneously which may enhance the rewarding effects of alcohol. However, co-use of these substance can increase risk of negative consequences such as blackouts, driving under the influence, and social consequences. Therefore understanding factors that contribute to and protect against co-use is essential. Previous literature has found that young adults who receive greater reinforcement from alcohol-related activities engage in more frequent alcohol use. This study examines the impact of alcohol-free reinforcement on days of co-use of alcohol and cannabis among college freshman.
Associations Between Alcohol-Free Sources of Reinforcement and the Frequency of Alcohol and Cannabis Co-Use Among College Freshmen
By Higher Education Center - February 20, 2023
A recent survey in the United States found that 62% of college students use alcohol and 26% use cannabis. In addition, many college students use alcohol and cannabis simultaneously which may enhance the rewarding effects of alcohol. However, co-use of these substance can increase risk of negative consequences such as blackouts, driving under the influence, and social consequences. Therefore understanding factors that contribute to and protect against co-use is essential. Previous literature has found that young adults who receive greater reinforcement from alcohol-related activities engage in more frequent alcohol use. This study examines the impact of alcohol-free reinforcement on days of co-use of alcohol and cannabis among college freshman.
The study’s sample consisted of 86 college freshman who were enrolled in a college freshman orientation course. The Adolescent Reinforcement Survey Schedule- Alcohol Use Version (ARSS-AUV) was used to measure reinforcement from alcohol-free and alcohol-involved activities. Participants rated the frequency in which they participated in 45 activities and how much enjoyment they got from each activity in the past 30 days. Students were also asked to report alcohol, cannabis, and co-use of alcohol and cannabis during the past 30 days. Data was analyzed using a zero-inflated Poisson regression to assess for a relationship between alcohol-free reinforcement and co-use days.
Results of the data analysis showed participants obtained approximately 73% of their reinforcement from alcohol-free sources. Among students who did not report co-use, the proportion of alcohol-free reinforcement was 0.74 while the proportion of alcohol-free reinforcement for those who reported co-use was 0.68. Among those who reported co-use, every one unit increase in proportionate alcohol-free reinforcement resulted in a rate of co-use days that was 0.962 lower. In addition, alcohol-free sources of reinforcement from peer interactions, family interactions, and school activities were significantly and negatively associated with days of co-use. Proportionate alcohol-free reinforcement did not significantly differentiate students who reported not engaging in co-use.
Takeaway: Among college freshman who report co-use of alcohol and cannabis, greater proportionate of alcohol-free reinforcement may be associated with lower engagement in co-use.
Jun, D., Fazzino, T.L.. Associations between Alcohol-Free Sources of Reinforcement and the Frequency of Alcohol and Cannabis Co-Use among College Freshmen. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(4):2884. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20042884
The study’s sample consisted of 86 college freshman who were enrolled in a college freshman orientation course. The Adolescent Reinforcement Survey Schedule- Alcohol Use Version (ARSS-AUV) was used to measure reinforcement from alcohol-free and alcohol-involved activities. Participants rated the frequency in which they participated in 45 activities and how much enjoyment they got from each activity in the past 30 days. Students were also asked to report alcohol, cannabis, and co-use of alcohol and cannabis during the past 30 days. Data was analyzed using a zero-inflated Poisson regression to assess for a relationship between alcohol-free reinforcement and co-use days.
Results of the data analysis showed participants obtained approximately 73% of their reinforcement from alcohol-free sources. Among students who did not report co-use, the proportion of alcohol-free reinforcement was 0.74 while the proportion of alcohol-free reinforcement for those who reported co-use was 0.68. Among those who reported co-use, every one unit increase in proportionate alcohol-free reinforcement resulted in a rate of co-use days that was 0.962 lower. In addition, alcohol-free sources of reinforcement from peer interactions, family interactions, and school activities were significantly and negatively associated with days of co-use. Proportionate alcohol-free reinforcement did not significantly differentiate students who reported not engaging in co-use.
Takeaway: Among college freshman who report co-use of alcohol and cannabis, greater proportionate of alcohol-free reinforcement may be associated with lower engagement in co-use.
Jun, D., Fazzino, T.L.. Associations between Alcohol-Free Sources of Reinforcement and the Frequency of Alcohol and Cannabis Co-Use among College Freshmen. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(4):2884. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20042884
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