Adolescent alcohol drinking and cannabis use: Longitudinal and cohort analysis of high school students in Australia

  • Lily Davidson School of Psychology, Lives Lived Well Group (LLW), The University of Queensland, Australia; National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research (NCYSUR), The University of Queensland, Australia; The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, Australia
  • Janni Leung National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research; National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research (NCYSUR), The University of Queensland, Australia
  • Catherine Quinn School of Psychology, Lives Lived Well Group (LLW), The University of Queensland, Australia; National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research (NCYSUR), The University of Queensland, Australia; National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research (NCYSUR), The University of Queensland, Australia
  • Rhiannon Ellem School of Psychology, Lives Lived Well Group (LLW), The University of Queensland, Australia; National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research (NCYSUR), The University of Queensland, Australia
  • Calvert Tisdale School of Psychology, Lives Lived Well Group (LLW), The University of Queensland, Australia; National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research (NCYSUR), The University of Queensland, Australia; National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), University of New South Wales, Australia
  • Jisu Choi National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research (NCYSUR), The University of Queensland, Australia
  • Molly Carlyle School of Psychology, Lives Lived Well Group (LLW), The University of Queensland, Australia; National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research (NCYSUR), The University of Queensland, Australia
  • Melanie White School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
  • David J. Kavanagh National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research (NCYSUR), The University of Queensland, Australia; School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
  • Leanne Hides School of Psychology, Lives Lived Well Group (LLW), The University of Queensland, Australia; National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research (NCYSUR), The University of Queensland, Australia
Keywords: Adolescent Behaviour, Underage drinking, Drinking Behaviour, Marijuana

Abstract

Aims: The final year of high school is a challenging phase, during which substance use is common. We conducted longitudinal and cohort comparisons on the levels of alcohol and cannabis use among final year (Year 12) high school students compared to the previous year.

Design: Longitudinal and cohort analyses of self-reported survey data.

Setting: Ten independent schools across South-East Queensland, Australia.

Participants: Year 12 students in 2020 (n = 1024) were compared (a) longitudinally with themselves in Year 11; and (b) to the 2019 Year 12 cohort (n = 632).

Measures: Self-reported alcohol and cannabis use. Analyses adjusted for socio-demographic, parental, and schooling variables.

Findings: Longitudinally, Year 12 students of 2020 had higher odds of having six or more drinks per occasion, monthly or more often, and reporting lifetime cannabis use, compared to themselves in 2019. However, they were not more likely to drink alcohol weekly or more often in 2020 versus 2019. Compared to the 2019 cohort, the 2020 cohort had higher odds of drinking weekly or more often, having six or more drinks per occasion monthly, and reporting lifetime cannabis use.  

Conclusions: The 2020 cohort of Year 12 adolescents were more likely to engage in heavy drinking and cannabis use, compared to themselves the previous year, and compared to the previous cohort. Greater alcohol consumption and likelihood of cannabis use among the 2020 cohort might be explained by increased age and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research to monitor if this is a continuing trend is warranted.

Published
2024-10-29
How to Cite
Davidson, L., Leung, J., Quinn, C., Ellem, R., Tisdale, C., Choi, J., Carlyle, M., White, M., Kavanagh, D. J., & Hides, L. (2024). Adolescent alcohol drinking and cannabis use: Longitudinal and cohort analysis of high school students in Australia. International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research. https://doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.499
Section
Article