Patterns of simultaneous polysubstance use in drug using university students

Among 149 university students who use drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis are frequently used together and with other substances. When alcohol is taken with cannabis, psilocybin, MDMA, cocaine, amphetamine, methylphenidate, or LSD, alcohol is typically consumed first. People drink more alcohol when they also use cocaine or methylphenidate than when they drink alone. Tobacco smoking increases above usual rates when used with alcohol, cannabis, psilocybin, MDMA, cocaine, amphetamine, LSD, or methylphenidate. Cannabis use patterns do not systematically relate to other substances. The findings indicate that the way a substance is used often depends on what other substances are taken at the same time.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Simultaneous polysubstance use (SPU) is a common phenomenon, yet little is known about how various substances are used with one another. In the present study 149 drug‐using university students completed structured interviews about their use of various substances. For each substance ever used, participants provided details about the type, order and amount of all substances co‐administered during its most recent administration. Alcohol, tobacco and cannabis were frequently co‐administered with each other and with all other substances. Chi‐squared tests revealed that when alcohol was used in combination with any of cannabis, psilocybin, MDMA, cocaine, amphetamine, methylphenidate ( p s < 0.01) or LSD ( p < 0.05) its initial use preceded the administration of the other substance. Paired samples t‐tests revealed that when alcohol was used with cocaine ( p < 0.01) or methylphenidate ( p < 0.05) it was ingested in greater quantities than when used in their absence. Patterns of cannabis use were not systematically related to other substances administered. Finally, using one‐sample t‐tests, tobacco use was demonstrated to be increased relative to ‘sober’ smoking rates when used with alcohol, cannabis, psilocybin, MDMA, cocaine, amphetamine ( p s < 0.001), LSD ( p < 0.01) or methylphenidate ( p < 0.05). Results suggest that many substances are routinely used in a SPU context and that the pattern in which a substance is used may be related to other substances co‐administered. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.