What Drives Same-Day Tobacco and Cannabis Use in Teens
Among adolescent tobacco and cannabis users, alcohol use and secondhand smoke/vape exposure were the strongest predictors of same-day poly-product use.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among 536 10th and 11th graders who used tobacco/cannabis, 8.6% reported frequent same-day poly-tobacco use, 13.8% frequent poly-cannabis use, 13.3% frequent poly-drug use, and 3.4% vape mixing. Past 30-day alcohol use was associated with 1.88-8.31x higher odds of same-day poly-use. Secondhand smoke/vapor exposure consistently predicted higher odds (1.13-1.26x) across all patterns.
Key Numbers
536 students (66.2% Hispanic, 62.5% male). Frequent same-day poly-tobacco: 8.6%. Poly-cannabis: 13.8%. Poly-drug: 13.3%. Vape mixing: 3.4%. Alcohol use OR range: 1.88-8.31 (p<0.05). Secondhand exposure OR range: 1.13-1.26 (p<0.05).
How They Did This
Cross-sectional survey of 536 10th/11th grade students (predominantly Hispanic, 62.5% male) who reported tobacco or cannabis use. Regression models examined intrapersonal, psychological, societal, and environmental correlates of same-day poly-product use frequency.
Why This Research Matters
Same-day poly-product use carries higher health risks than single-product use. Identifying that alcohol and environmental smoke exposure are key drivers suggests specific intervention targets.
The Bigger Picture
The role of environmental exposure (secondhand smoke/vapor) in predicting poly-use highlights that adolescent substance use is not purely an individual choice but is shaped by the environments they inhabit.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design. Predominantly Hispanic sample from Southern California may not generalize. Self-reported substance use. Only current users were included, creating a selected sample. Cannot determine whether alcohol causes poly-use or if both reflect a common underlying factor.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would reducing adolescent alcohol use decrease poly-product tobacco/cannabis use?
- ?Do smoke-free environments reduce poly-use rates among adolescent users?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Alcohol use increased odds of same-day poly-product use by 1.88 to 8.31 times among teen users
- Evidence Grade:
- Reasonable sample size with detailed poly-use measurement, but cross-sectional design and regional sample limit causal and generalizable conclusions.
- Study Age:
- 2025 publication.
- Original Title:
- Multilevel Correlates of Same Day Poly-Product Use/Co-Use among Adolescents Who Use Tobacco and Cannabis.
- Published In:
- Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, 28(1), 26-35 (2025)
- Authors:
- Jacobs, Wura(7), Qin, Weisiyu A, Jafarzadeh, Nikki S(2), Barrington-Trimis, Jessica, Leventhal, Adam M
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06725
Evidence Hierarchy
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06725APA
Jacobs, Wura; Qin, Weisiyu A; Jafarzadeh, Nikki S; Barrington-Trimis, Jessica; Leventhal, Adam M. (2025). Multilevel Correlates of Same Day Poly-Product Use/Co-Use among Adolescents Who Use Tobacco and Cannabis.. Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, 28(1), 26-35. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntaf150
MLA
Jacobs, Wura, et al. "Multilevel Correlates of Same Day Poly-Product Use/Co-Use among Adolescents Who Use Tobacco and Cannabis.." Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntaf150
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Multilevel Correlates of Same Day Poly-Product Use/Co-Use am..." RTHC-06725. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/jacobs-2025-multilevel-correlates-of-same
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.