title: Is there any evidence of changes in patterns of concurrent drug use among young Australians 18-29 years between 2007 and 2010?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A significant minority of Australians engage in concurrent drug use (using more than one drug in a given period). We examined clusters and correlates of concurrent drug use using the latest available nationally representative survey data on Australian young adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  3836 participants aged 18-29 years (mean age 24 years) from the 2010 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Clusters were distilled using latent class analysis of past year use of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, cocaine, hallucinogens, ecstasy, ketamine, GHB, inhalants, steroids, barbiturates, meth/amphetamines, heroin, methadone/buprenorphine, other opiates, painkillers and tranquillisers/sleeping pills.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Concurrent drug use in this sample was best described using a 4-class solution. The majority (87.5%) of young adults predominantly used alcohol only (50.9%) or alcohol and tobacco (36.6%). 10.2% reported using alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and ecstasy, and 2.3% reported using an extensive range of drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most drug use clusters were robust in their profile and stable in their prevalence, indicating little meaningful change at the population level from 2007. The targeting of alcohol and tobacco use remains a priority, but openness to experiencing diverse drug-related effects remains a significant concern for 12.5% of young people in this age group.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia. Electronic address: a.kelly@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Adrian B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia. Electronic address: chan4@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Gary C K
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia. Electronic address: angela.white@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia. Electronic address: mail@jbsaunders.net.
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.affiliation: Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia; School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia. Electronic address: Jason.connor@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jason P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Connor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cluster; Concurrent drug use; Latent class analysis; Polydrug use; Risk and protective factors; Young adults