Polysubstance use and mental health among young adults

ObjectivesTo describe mental health indicators according to regular (i.e., weekly or daily) alcohol, cannabis, and/or nicotine use in a population-based sample of young adults.MethodsData for 733 participants (mean age = 30.6 years) were drawn from cycle 23 of the ongoing Nicotine Dependence In Teens study, Montreal, Canada. The associations between (i) number of substances used and (ii) pattern of polysubstance use and each of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and positive mental health (PMH) were modeled using multivariable linear regression adjusting for age, sex, and education.ResultsMedian (IQR) scores for depressive symptoms (range 0-50), anxiety symptoms (range 0-21), and PMH (range 0-70) were 8.0 (7.0), 4.0 (6.0), and 43.0 (18.0), respectively. One third (37%) of participants did not report regular use of any substance; 42%, 16%, and 5% reported regular use of one, two, or three substances, respectively. There was no dose-response association between number of substances used and any mental health indicator. Relative to no substance use, regular use of two substances was associated with more frequent anxiety symptoms (beta<^>\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\widehat{\beta }$$\end{document} [95% CI] = 1.32 [0.34, 2.31]) and lower PMH (-3.64 [-6.34, -0.95]). Specifically, the cannabis-nicotine combination was associated with more frequent anxiety symptoms (2.58 [1.06, 4.10]) and lower PMH (-5.90 [-10.04, -1.76]). The alcohol-nicotine combination was associated with lower PMH (-3.70 [-7.30, -0.10]).ConclusionSpecific pairings of alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis may be important in their associations with mental health. Longitudinal studies in population-based samples of young adults are needed to replicate these findings before their implications for public health programming can be considered. ObjectifsD & eacute;crire les indicateurs de sant & eacute; mentale en fonction de la consommation r & eacute;guli & egrave;re (hebdomadaire ou quotidienne) d'alcool, de cannabis et/ou de nicotine dans un & eacute;chantillon populationnel de jeunes adultes.M & eacute;thodesLes donn & eacute;es de 733 participants (& acirc;ge moyen de 30,6 ans) ont & eacute;t & eacute; tir & eacute;es du cycle 23 de l'& eacute;tude en cours Nicotine Dependence In Teens, Montr & eacute;al, Canada. Les associations entre (i) le nombre de substances consomm & eacute;es et (ii) le mode de polyconsommation et chacun des sympt & ocirc;mes d & eacute;pressifs, des sympt & ocirc;mes d'anxi & eacute;t & eacute; et de sant & eacute; mentale positive (SMP) ont & eacute;t & eacute; mod & eacute;lis & eacute;es & agrave; l'aide d'une r & eacute;gression lin & eacute;aire multivariable ajust & eacute;e en fonction de l'& acirc;ge, du sexe et du niveau d'& eacute;ducation.R & eacute;sultatsLes scores m & eacute;dians (IQR) pour les sympt & ocirc;mes d & eacute;pressifs (intervalle 0-50), les sympt & ocirc;mes d'anxi & eacute;t & eacute; (intervalle 0-21) et la SMP (intervalle 0-70) & eacute;taient respectivement de 8,0 (7,0), 4,0 (6,0) et 43,0 (18,0). Un tiers (37%) des participants ont d & eacute;clar & eacute; consommer aucune substance r & eacute;guli & egrave;rement; 42%, 16% et 5% ont d & eacute;clar & eacute; consommer r & eacute;guli & egrave;rement une, deux ou trois substances, respectivement. Il n'y avait pas d'association dose-r & eacute;ponse entre le nombre de substances et les indicateurs de sant & eacute; mentale. Par rapport & agrave; l'absence de consommation de substances, la consommation r & eacute;guli & egrave;re de deux substances & eacute;tait associ & eacute;e & agrave; des sympt & ocirc;mes d'anxi & eacute;t & eacute; plus fr & eacute;quents (beta<^>\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\widehat{\beta }$$\end{document} [95% CI] = 1,32 [0,34, 2,31] et & agrave; une SMP plus faible (-3,64 [-6,34,-0,95]). Plus pr & eacute;cis & eacute;ment, la combinaison cannabis-nicotine & eacute;tait associ & eacute;e & agrave; des sympt & ocirc;mes d'anxi & eacute;t & eacute; plus fr & eacute;quents (2,58 [1,06, 4,10]) et & agrave; une SMP plus faible (-5,90 [-10,04,-1,76]). De m & ecirc;me, la combinaison alcool-nicotine & eacute;tait associ & eacute;e & agrave; une SMP plus faible (-3,70 [-7,30,-0,10]).ConclusionDes combinaisons sp & eacute;cifiques d'alcool, de nicotine et de cannabis peuvent & ecirc;tre importantes dans leurs associations avec des indicateurs de sant & eacute; mentale. Des & eacute;tudes longitudinales sur des & eacute;chantillons populationnels de jeunes adultes sont n & eacute;cessaires pour reproduire ces r & eacute;sultats avant d'envisager leurs implications pour les programmes de sant & eacute; publique.