Trends in Single, Dual, and Poly Use of Alcohol, Cigarettes, and Marijuana Among US High-School Students: 1991-2017.

Abstract

<i>Objectives.</i> To evaluate trends in patterns (single, dual, or poly) of current use of alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana (ACM) among youths in the United States. <i>Methods.</i> I used data from the 1991-2017 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (n = 203 663) to report average annual percentage change (AAPC) and linear trends of single, dual, and poly use of ACM among youths. <i>Results.</i> From 1991 to 2017, the prevalence of marijuana-only use increased from 0.6% to 6.3% (AAPC = 7.4) while the prevalence of use of alcohol only or cigarettes only significantly declined. Dual use of alcohol and marijuana increased from 3.6% to 7.6% (AAPC = 2.4), while dual use of alcohol and cigarettes declined from 11.8% to 1.7% (AAPC = -7.5). The prevalence of poly use of ACM declined from 9.4% to 4.4%. There is an enlarged disparity in use of marijuana only by race/ethnicity with an increase of 11.5% among non-Hispanic Blacks and an increase of 8.1% among Hispanics, compared with an increase of 3.4% among non-Hispanic Whites. <i>Conclusions.</i> The use patterns of ACM among youths have changed with a surge in use of marijuana only, especially among racial/ethnic minorities.