Differences in Marijuana Use, Consequences, and Motives based on Young Adults’ Interest in Reducing their Marijuana Use or Consequences: May 2021 Data from a High-risk Community Sample

Abstract

Purpose. This study contributes to our understanding of the factors associated with young adults’ interest in reducing their marijuana use or consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study compared high-risk young adults who indicated they were open to or thinking about changing their marijuana use to those who were satisfied with their marijuana use. These two groups were compared on biological sex, age, marijuana use, consequences, and 12 motives. Method. The data were part of a larger longitudinal study that recruited a community sample of young adults from the Seattle WA area (ages 18-25 at recruitment), who reported recent alcohol use and also simultaneous alcohol and marijuana use. Participants were recruited through various methods including social media and Craigslist advertisements. Participants completed a baseline survey and six 2-week bursts of online daily surveys across two years as well as other follow-up surveys. Data presented here were collected in May 2021, the final follow-up assessment point. May 2021 data were collected from 376 participants (92% of the original recruited sample), and the current analyses focus on the 265 participants who reported using marijuana in the past month (50.6% females, 48.68% non-Hispanic/Latinx White, mean age = 24.58 (SD = 2.20). Results. Over one-third (37.7%, n = 100) indicated they were open to changing or currently thinking about changing their marijuana use by using less or by reducing marijuana’s negative effects. Almost two-thirds (60.4%, n = 160) indicated they were satisfied with their use of marijuana, 1.5% (n = 4) indicated they were currently seeking or in treatment for marijuana use, and 0.4% (n = 1) did not provide a response. More men (44.60%) than women (32.30%) indicated they were open to changing or currently thinking about changing their marijuana use by using less or by reducing marijuana’s negative effects. Young adults who indicated they were open to or thinking about changing their use reported significantly more hours high in a typical week and more marijuana consequences than those who were satisfied with their use of marijuana. Finally, young adults who indicated they were open to or thinking about changing their use reported significantly higher scores for the following seven marijuana motives: coping, boredom, altered perceptions, social anxiety, perceived low risk, sleep, and availability. No differences were found for five marijuana motives: enjoyment, conformity, experimentation, alcohol-related, and celebration. Conclusions. Findings underscore the potential role of negative consequences as a motivator for young adults’ interest in reducing their marijuana use. Coping motives, social anxiety motives, and sleep motives may be of particular importance with respect to young adults’ self-motivation to change and facilitating the process of change.