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Using Alcohol First Predicts Heavier Drinking on Simultaneous Alcohol and Cannabis Use Days, with no Evidence for
Kendra D Carnrite1, Korina Kaye M Taguba1, Andrea L Howard1
1Department of Psychology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Substance Use & Misuse
|July 19, 2026
Summary
Young adults drank more alcohol on days they used both alcohol and cannabis compared to alcohol-only days. Using cannabis before alcohol on simultaneous use days was linked to consuming fewer drinks.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Research
- Substance Use Studies
- Psychology
Background:
- Simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use is prevalent among young adults.
- The order of substance consumption and individual motives can influence drinking patterns.
- Understanding these dynamics is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in alcohol consumption between alcohol-only and simultaneous alcohol-cannabis use days.
- To examine if the order of alcohol and cannabis use predicts alcohol consumption levels.
- To determine if coping or enhancement motives moderate the relationship between the order of use and alcohol consumption.
Main Methods:
- A 14-weekend daily diary study was conducted with 370 undergraduate students.
- Data collected included alcohol and cannabis use, order of use, and drinking motives.
- Analyses focused on 2826 alcohol-only and simultaneous use days.
Main Results:
- Students consumed significantly more alcohol on simultaneous use days (5.08 drinks) compared to alcohol-only days (4.23 drinks).
- Consuming cannabis first on simultaneous use days was associated with approximately 1.4 fewer drinks compared to using alcohol first.
- The order of substance use did not significantly interact with coping or enhancement motives.
Conclusions:
- Initiating cannabis use before alcohol on simultaneous use days is associated with reduced alcohol consumption.
- This effect appears independent of daily coping or enhancement motives.
- Situational factors like affect and social setting may explain the reduced drinking observed when cannabis is used first.
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