Adverse childhood experiences and risk patterns of alcohol and cannabis co-use: a longitudinal study of Puerto Rican youth
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9 2023
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Source: J Adolesc Health. 73(3):421-427
Details:
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Alternative Title:J Adolesc Health
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Description:Purpose:
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are common in Puerto Rican youths. Few large longitudinal studies of Latine youth examined what predicts co-use of alcohol and cannabis in late adolescence and young adulthood. We investigated the prospective association between ACEs with alcohol/cannabis co-use in Puerto Rican youth.
Methods:
Participants from a longitudinal study of Puerto Rican youth (n=2,004) were included. Using multinomial logistic regressions to test associations between prospectively reported ACEs (eleven types, reported by parents and/or children, categorized as 0-1, 2-3, and 4+ ACEs) with young adult alcohol/cannabis use patterns in the past month (i.e., no lifetime use, low-risk[no binge drinking and cannabis use <10], binge-drinking only, regular cannabis use only, alcohol/cannabis co-use). Models were adjusted for sociodemographic variables.
Results:
In this sample, 27.8% reported 4+ ACEs, 28.6% endorsed binge drinking, 4.9% regular cannabis use, and 5.5% alcohol/cannabis co-use. Compared to individuals with no lifetime use, those reporting 4+ (vs 0-1) ACEs had greater odds of low-risk use (aOR 1.60, 95% CI=1.04-2.45), regular cannabis use (aOR 3.13 95% CI=1.44-6.77) and alcohol/cannabis co-use (aOR 3.57, 95% CI=1.89-6.75). In relation to low-risk use, reporting 4+ ACEs (vs. 0-1) was associated with 1.96 odds (95%CI= 1.01-3.78) of regular cannabis use and 2.24 odds (95%CI=1.29-3.89) of alcohol/cannabis co-use.
Conclusions:
Exposure to 4+ ACEs was associated with the occurrence of adolescent/young adulthood regular cannabis use and alcohol/cannabis co-use. Importantly, ACEs exposure differentiated young adults who were co-using compared to those engaged in low-risk use. Preventing ACE or interventions for Puerto Rican youth experiencing 4+ ACEs may mitigate negative consequences associated with alcohol/cannabis co-use.
Implications and Contribution:
Our findings highlight the need to prevent ACEs and to develop interventions focused on high ACEs considering that it could potentially prevent alcohol/cannabis co-use and the negative consequences related to this high-risk pattern of substance use in Puerto-Rican youth.
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Pubmed ID:37294259
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Pubmed Central ID:PMC10959424
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Supporting Files:No Additional Files