Tobacco and cannabis poly-substance and poly-product use trajectories across adolescence and young adulthood

Tobacco and cannabis poly-substance and poly-product use is common in adolescents and young adults (AYAs), but few studies have examined developmental trajectories of poly-use. This study characterized the prevalence, patterns, and racial/ethnic and sex differences of developmental trajectories of use and poly-use of 8 different widely-marketed tobacco and cannabis products across adolescence and young adulthood. 3322 AYAs from Los Angeles, California completed 5 surveys from fall of 11th grade (2015) to 1–2 years post-high school (2018–2019). Self-reported past 30-day use of three tobacco (nicotine vaping, cigarette, hookah) and five cannabis (combustible, blunt, edible, vaping, dabbing) products were analyzed using parallel growth mixture modeling to identify tobacco and cannabis use and poly-use trajectories; racial/ethnic and sex differences were evaluated as correlates of trajectory membership. Five trajectories were identified: Non-Users (58.6%); Young Adult-Onset Poly-Substance/Poly-Product Users (15.8%); Decreasing Moderate Poly-Substance/Poly-Product Users (9.8%); Increasing Predominant Cannabis Poly-Product Users (8.3%); and Chronic Poly-Substance/Poly-Product Users (7.3%). Within trajectories, developmental patterns of each tobacco and cannabis product were similar. Non-Hispanic White (vs. non-NH White) participants had higher odds of belonging to the Chronic Poly-Substance/Poly-Product Users (vs. Non-Users) trajectory (aOR = 2.24[1.37,3.67]); females (vs. males) had higher odds of belonging to the Young Adult-Onset Poly-Substance/Poly-Product Users (vs. Non-Users) trajectory (aOR = 1.30[1.02–1.66]). Tobacco and cannabis poly-substance use patterns, including use of various products, appear to be a common developmental trajectory during some point in adolescence and young adulthood. The interplay of tobacco and cannabis poly-substance/poly-product use merit attention in prevention and regulatory policies to protect AYA health.