title: Co-occurring marijuana use is associated with medication nonadherence and nonplanning impulsivity in young adult heavy drinkers.
abstract: Few studies have examined the co-occurrence of alcohol and marijuana use in clinical samples of young adults. The present study investigated whether co-occurring marijuana use is associated with characteristics indicative of a high level of risk in young adult heavy drinkers. Individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 years (N=122) participated in an ongoing 8-week randomized clinical trial that tested the efficacy of placebo-controlled naltrexone plus brief individual counseling to reduce heavy drinking. At intake participants completed self-report assessments on alcohol consumption, alcohol-related negative consequences, motivation to reduce drinking, trait impulsivity, expectancies for alcohol-induced disinhibition, use of cigarettes, and history of medication nonadherence. In univariate tests heavy drinkers with and without co-occurring marijuana use did not differ on alcohol consumption, most alcohol-related negative consequences, and motivation to reduce drinking. In multivariate tests controlling for demographic characteristics, co-occurring heavy alcohol and marijuana use was significantly associated with nonplanning impulsivity (β=2.95) and a history of both unintentional (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=3.30) and purposeful (aOR=3.98) nonadherence to medication. Findings suggest that young adult heavy drinkers with co-occurring marijuana use exhibit a high-risk clinical profile and may benefit from interventions that increase adherence to medications.
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, One Long Wharf Drive, Box 18, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. erica.peters@yale.edu
authors.forename: Erica N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Leeman
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Fucito
authors.forename: Benjamin A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Toll
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Corbin
authors.forename: Stephanie S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: O'Malley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000427:Alcohol Deterrents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D009042:Motivation; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000427:Alcohol Deterrents; D009271:Naltrexone