Cited by 71Cannabis and Cannabinoid ResearchSubstance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesSmoking Behavior and Cessation

Marijuana use trajectories during college predict health outcomes nine years post-matriculation.

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Arria, Amelia M., Caldeira, Kimberly M., Bugbee, Brittany A., Vincent, Kathryn B., O’Grady, Kevin E.·2016·Drug and Alcohol Dependence

Abstract

Background Several studies have linked marijuana use with a variety of health outcomes among young adults. Information about marijuana's long-term health effects is critically needed.Methods Data are from a ten-year study of 1253 young adults originally recruited as first-year college students and assessed annually thereafter. Six trajectories of marijuana use during college (Non-Use, Low-Stable, Early-Decline, College-Peak, Late-Increase, Chronic) were previously derived using latent variable growth mixture modeling. Nine health outcomes assessed in Year 10 (modal age 27) were regressed on a group membership variable for the six group trajectories, holding constant demographics, baseline health status, and alcohol and tobacco trajectory group membership.Results Marijuana trajectory groups differed significantly on seven of the nine outcomes (functional impairment due to injury, illness, or emotional problems; psychological distress; subjective well-being; and mental and physical health service utilization; all ps<.001), but not on general health rating or body mass index. Non-users fared better than the Late-Increase and Chronic groups on most physical and mental health outcomes. The declining groups (Early-Decline, College-Peak) fared better than the Chronic group on mental health outcomes. The Late-Increase group fared significantly worse than the stable groups (Non-Use, Low-Stable, Chronic) on both physical and mental health outcomes.Conclusions Even occasional or time-limited marijuana use might have adverse effects on physical and mental health, perhaps enduring after several years of moderation or abstinence. Reducing marijuana use frequency might mitigate such effects. Individuals who escalate their marijuana use in their early twenties might be at especially high risk for adverse outcomes.

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Authors
Arria, A. M., Caldeira, K. M., Bugbee, B. A., Vincent, K. B., & O’Grady, K. E.
Affiliations
University of Maryland, College Park (US)
Corresponding author
Arria, Amelia M.
Venue
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-02
Volume
159
Pages
158-165
ISSN
0376-8716 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2217641954
Cited by
71
References
39
Citations by year
2025: 6 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 6
FWCI
5.96
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Drug and Alcohol Dependence (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA014845)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
Keywords
cannabis use, university students, young adults, long-term health effects, mental health, physical health, psychological distress, subjective well-being, health care utilization, functional disability, chronic cannabis use
MeSH terms
Alcohol Drinking in College, Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adult, Mental Disorders, Female, Health Status, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Marijuana Smoking, Maryland, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Comorbidity, Young Adult, Tobacco Use

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