lancet-header

Preprints with The Lancet is part of SSRN´s First Look, a place where journals identify content of interest prior to publication. Authors have opted in at submission to The Lancet family of journals to post their preprints on Preprints with The Lancet. The usual SSRN checks and a Lancet-specific check for appropriateness and transparency have been applied. Preprints available here are not Lancet publications or necessarily under review with a Lancet journal. These preprints are early stage research papers that have not been peer-reviewed. The findings should not be used for clinical or public health decision making and should not be presented to a lay audience without highlighting that they are preliminary and have not been peer-reviewed. For more information on this collaboration, see the comments published in The Lancet about the trial period, and our decision to make this a permanent offering, or visit The Lancet´s FAQ page, and for any feedback please contact preprints@lancet.com.

Polysubstance Use and Correlations with Psychosocial and Health Risk Behaviours a Latent Profile Analysis Among More than 95,000 Norwegian Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic

28 Pages Posted: 10 Oct 2022

See all articles by Rubén Rodríguez-Cano

Rubén Rodríguez-Cano

University of Oslo - PROMENTA Research Center

George Kypriotakis

Texas A&M University - Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science

Laura Cortés-García

University of Oslo - PROMENTA Research Center

Anders Bakken

Norwegian Social Research

Tilmann von Soest

University of Oslo - PROMENTA Research Center

More...

Abstract

Background: Polysubstance use represents a health risk for adolescents; however, large scale studies on this issue during COVID-19 pandemic are scarce. We aim to (i) characterise substance use profiles among adolescents, and (ii) identify predictors of such substance use profiles.

Methods: A Norwegian nationwide survey was analysed using Latent Profile Analysis in 2021. Participants were adolescents (N = 97,429; ages 13 to 18 years). We assessed current cigarettes, e-cigarettes and snus use, lifetime alcohol consumption, and cannabis and other illicit drugs use over a 12-month period. Predictors included psychosocial variables, health risk behaviours, and COVID-19 related problems.

Findings: We identified three adolescent profiles; those who use no substances ( n = 88,890; 92%); those who use snus and alcohol ( n = 6,546; 6%); and those who use multiple substances (i.e., polysubstance users; n = 1,993; 2%). Boys, older adolescents, adolescents with lower socio-economic status, and those reporting low levels of parental control and higher parental alcohol use were most likely to be polysubstance users. Other significant predictors were to have easy access to cannabis, mental health problems, a high prevalence of pain, a low consumption of fruit, low levels of physical activity, and using over the counter painkillers. Adolescents with social and mental health issues related to COVID-19 were also more at risk of being in the polysubstance user profile. Adolescents who use snus and alcohol showed similar patterns of correlates compared to non-users, but associations were weaker than for polysubstance users.

Interpretation: Adolescents who use multiple substances have an unhealthier lifestyle, are at a higher risk of experiencing psychosocial impairments, and report more negative problems related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Preventative strategies aimed at reducing polysubstance use might help to promote psychosocial wellbeing in adolescents in various life domains.

Funding: Research Council of Norway (project #: 288083 and 300816)

Declaration of Interest: None to declare.

Ethical Approval: The University of Oslo’s Department of Psychology internal research ethics committee approved the study (reference #13710027).

Keywords: Adolescent, polysubstance use, cigarette, e-cigarette, snus, alcohol drinking, cannabis, illicit drugs, Latent Profile Analyses, COVID-19-related problems

Suggested Citation

Rodríguez-Cano, Rubén and Kypriotakis, George and Cortés-García, Laura and Bakken, Anders and von Soest, Tilmann, Polysubstance Use and Correlations with Psychosocial and Health Risk Behaviours a Latent Profile Analysis Among More than 95,000 Norwegian Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4243683 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4243683

Rubén Rodríguez-Cano (Contact Author)

University of Oslo - PROMENTA Research Center ( email )

George Kypriotakis

Texas A&M University - Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science ( email )

Laura Cortés-García

University of Oslo - PROMENTA Research Center ( email )

Anders Bakken

Norwegian Social Research ( email )

Tilmann Von Soest

University of Oslo - PROMENTA Research Center ( email )

Click here to go to TheLancet.com

Paper statistics

Downloads
30
Abstract Views
250
PlumX Metrics