All Teen Substance Use is Related

Researchers at the US-based Institute for Behavior and Health organized a study that compared substance use rates among American teens aged 12-17 specifically looking at whether or not use of one substance — alcohol, cigarettes or marijuana — increased the risk of using the others. Data from the US National Survey on Drug Use and Health show that for teens, all substance use is related.

Compared to their peers who did not use marijuana, youth aged 12-17 who used marijuana in the past month were:

• 7.9 times more likely to binge drink,

• 9.9 times more likely to use other illegal drugs, including opioids,

• 8.9 times more likely to smoke cigarettes.

Similarly, compared to their peers who did not use cigarettes, youth aged 12-17 who used cigarettes in the past month were 

• 6.1 times more likely to binge drink,

• 7.7 times more likely to use other illegal drugs,

• 7.0 times more likely to use marijuana.

The relationship holds for alcohol use as well: compared to their peers who did not use binge drink, youth aged 12-17 who engaged in binge drinking in the past month were:

• 9.9 times more likely to use marijuana,

• 8.1 times more likely to use other illegal drugs,

• 7.6 times more likely to smoke cigarettes.

No use of any alcohol, nicotine, marijuana or other drugs for health.

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