The Authors’ Own Words: High-Intensity and Simultaneous Alcohol and Marijuana Use among High School Seniors in the U.S.

The Authors’ Own Words: We ask authors to describe their impressions regarding the implications of their accepted work, how their findings will change practice, and what is noteworthy about the work.

High-Intensity and Simultaneous Alcohol and Marijuana Use among High School Seniors in the U.S.

Megan E. Patrick, PhD; Philip T. Veliz, PhD; & Yvonne M. Terry-McElrath, MSA

Substance Abuse Vol. 38, Iss. 4, 2017

“Results based on 10 years of data from nationally-representative samples of US high school seniors indicate that the risk of simultaneous alcohol and marijuana (SAM) use is highest for adolescents who engage in high-intensity drinking (10+ drinks in a row) and marijuana use (at least 1 marijuana joint/day). Health professionals, educators, parents, and researchers can use these results to help identify youth at highest risk for the acute and long-term deleterious effects of combined alcohol and marijuana use on neuropsychological development and cognitive functioning.”