PACIFIC INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND EVALUATION PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER ABOUT PRC RESEARCH POLICY STUDIES COMMUNITY ACTION Recreational Marijuana Legalization and Co-use With Alcohol Among Adolescents AUGUST 30, 2021 August 2021 A new study from the Prevention Research Center of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation finds that recreational marijuana legalization may increase the risk of alcohol and marijuana co-use among adolescents. The study examined the association between recreational marijuana legalization in California in November 2016 and alcohol and marijuana co-use among underage youth. The study is based on data from 7th, 9th, and 11th graders who participated in the statewide California Healthy Kids Survey from 2010–2011 to 2018–2019 school years. Key findings include: Recreational marijuana legalization was associated with greater odds of past 30–day alcohol and marijuana co-use among adolescents after 2016-2017 Legalization was more strongly associated with co-use among adolescents who reported past 30–day alcohol use and heavy drinking Legalization was inversely related to co-use among past 30–day marijuana users Among past 30–day co-users, there was apositive association between legalization and the frequency of marijuana use Study co-author, Dr. Mallie J. Pachall, notes that: “Our study shows that marijuana legalization may increase the risk of alcohol and marijuana co-use among adolescents. To combat this negative public health effect, greater restrictions on the numbers of alcohol and marijuana retail outlets, hours of operation, advertising, as well as imposing higher taxes on alcohol and marijuana products may help reduce their availability to adolescents.” Source: Paschall, Mallie J., Grisel García-Ramírez, and Joel W. Grube. “Recreational Marijuana Legalization and Co-use With Alcohol Among Adolescents.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2021.06.003Get rights and content PRC IN THE NEWS Alcohol beverage companies made an estimated $17.5 billion on underage drinking in 2016, study says JULY 30, 2021 A CNN news story focusing upon the cost of underage drinking and the extent of youth access to alcohol includes insights from Paul Gruenewald, PhD. Dr. Gruenewald, the Scientific Director of the Prevention Research Center of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, observes that the United States could deploy more proven policies to reduce the availability of alcohol in stores and the home to individuals under the age of 21. [Read More…] We are multi-disciplinary scientists who work to understand the large systems and specific contexts that affect health behaviors, especially the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. FOLLOW US RECENT RELEASES Recreational Marijuana Legalization and Co-use With Alcohol Among Adolescents Adolescents’ Tobacco and Nicotine Use: Associations Among Racial and Ethnic Groups Alcohol beverage companies made an estimated $17.5 billion on underage drinking in 2016, study says At-the-Moment Stress for Parents during COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Restrictions Co-Use of Alcohol and Marijuana and Beliefs among Teens in Oregon A Community-Level Intervention Reduces Alcohol-Related Motor Vehicle Crashes TERRITORIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT We would like to acknowledge that at Prevention Research Center’s Berkeley office we work in unceded Huichin Ohlone territory. ASK AN EXPERT Fields marked with an * are required NAME * EMAIL * QUESTION OR COMMENT * CONTACT center@prev.org Prevention Research Center 2150 Shattuck Avenue Suite 601 Berkeley, CA 94704-1365 Tel: (510) 486-1111 PRC HIGHLIGHTS PACIFIC INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH & EVALUATION PRC is a center within the Pacific Institute for Research & Evaluation (PIRE), an independent, nonprofit organization merging scientific knowledge and proven practice to create solutions that improve the health, safety and well-being of individuals, communities, and nations around the world. RESOURCE LINK FOR COMMUNITY ACTION Resource Link for Community Action provides information and practical guidance that communities can use to prevent alcohol and other drug misuse. For more information, contact Sue Thomas. COPYRIGHT © 2021 · PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER · WEBSITE: AMANDA MCCOY · LOG IN