Applying the prototype willingness model to day-level simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Substance Use Research

Background:

• The Prototype Willingness Model (PWM) explains psychosocial predictors of simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use.
• Understanding pathways like willingness and intentions is key to analyzing dual substance use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the reasoned and social reaction pathways of the PWM in relation to simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use.
• To assess day-level psychosocial predictors of simultaneous use and its negative consequences.

Main Methods:

• Eighty-nine young adults participated in a 30-day daily self-monitoring study.
• Data collection included daily assessments of alcohol use, cannabis use, simultaneous use, and related psychosocial constructs.

Main Results:

• Day-level attitudes, norms, perceived vulnerability, intentions, and willingness predicted simultaneous use.
• Day-level intentions and willingness predicted negative consequences.
• Social reaction pathways (descriptive norms to willingness; perceived vulnerability to willingness) showed significant indirect effects on simultaneous use.
• Reasoned pathways showed direct effects: injunctive norms and attitudes predicted simultaneous use without intention mediation.

Conclusions:

• The PWM framework is applicable to event-level simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use in young adults.
• Day-level constructs within the PWM may serve as modifiable targets for interventions aimed at reducing simultaneous use and associated harms.