What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Addiction.

Where was this research published?

Published in Addictive behaviors on August 12, 2026.

Young adult substance-use patterns may signal later opioid risk

Q: What did this research study find?

The study identified **five distinct *polysubstance-use trajectories*** involving *cannabis*, alcohol, and cigarettes between ages 18 and 24.

Polysubstance use trajectories and non-prescribed opioid use among young adults: a national longitudinal study.

Addictive behaviors • August 12, 2026 • Highly Relevant

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AI Summary

This national longitudinal study examined how cannabis, alcohol, and cigarette use changed from ages 18 to 24, and whether these patterns were linked with later non-prescribed opioid use. Researchers analyzed Monitoring the Future data from 62,223 participants across 42 U.S. cohorts, excluding people who had already reported non-prescribed opioid use at the start of the study.

The researchers identified five polysubstance-use trajectories, ranging from no cannabis or cigarette use with low-to-moderate alcohol use to high use of multiple substances. Compared with the lowest-use group, every other trajectory had higher adjusted odds of non-prescribed opioid use during young adulthood, with generally similar patterns for males and females. The findings show an association—not proof that cannabis or another substance caused opioid use—and suggest that opioid misuse often occurs within a broader pattern of polysubstance use. For cannabis users, the practical implication is that risks may be better understood in the context of alcohol, cigarette, and other substance use rather than cannabis use alone.

💡 Key Findings

The study identified five distinct polysubstance-use trajectories involving cannabis, alcohol, and cigarettes between ages 18 and 24.

High

80%

Compared with young adults reporting no cannabis or cigarette use and low-to-moderate alcohol use, all other trajectory groups had higher adjusted odds of non-prescribed opioid use during young adulthood.

High

80%

The association was generally similar across sex-stratified analyses, suggesting the broader pattern of polysubstance use was relevant for both males and females.

Good

70%

The findings support viewing non-prescribed opioid use as part of a broader polysubstance-use pattern, but they do not establish that cannabis or any other substance directly caused opioid use.

High

90%

📄 Original Abstract

To identify longitudinal trajectories of cannabis, alcohol, and cigarette use from ages 18-24 and examine whether trajectory-group membership is associated with non-prescribed opioid use during young adulthood. Data were drawn from restricted Monitoring the Future (MTF) panel data. Participants completed the base year survey and at least one of three follow-up surveys. Individuals reporting non-prescribed opioid use at baseline were excluded. The analytic sample included 62,223 participants from 42 US base year cohorts (1976-2018). Group-based trajectory modeling identified patterns of past-year cannabis, alcohol, and cigarette use. The outcome was any past-year non-prescribed opioid use reported at follow-up through ages 23/24. Weighted logistic regression models estimated associations between trajectory-group membership and non-prescribed opioid use, adjusting for background characteristics; sex-stratified models were also estimated. Five trajectory groups emerged: (1) no cannabis and cigarette/low-to-moderate alcohol use (14.7%); (2) no cannabis and cigarette/high alcohol use (32.7%); (3) high use of all substances (21.2%); (4) low cannabis use/moderate-to-high cigarette use/high alcohol use (19.6%); and (5) high-to-moderate cannabis use/moderate-decreasing-to-low cigarette use/high alcohol use (11.8%). Compared with Group 1, all other groups had higher adjusted odds of non-prescribed opioid use (p-values <0.01). Patterns were generally similar by sex. Compared with young adults characterized by no cannabis or cigarette use and low-to-moderate alcohol use, those in trajectory groups characterized by high use of one or more substances had higher odds of non-prescribed opioid use during young adulthood. Findings suggest that non-prescribed opioid use during young adulthood often occurs within a broader pattern of polysubstance use involving cannabis, alcohol, and cigarette use.