Factors Influencing Co-Use of Tobacco and Cannabis Amongst Young Adults in UK Further Education Colleges: A Qualitative Study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Factors Influencing Co-Use of Tobacco and Cannabis Amongst Young Adults in UK Further Education Colleges

T2 - A Qualitative Study

AU - Walsh, Hannah

AU - McNeill, Ann

AU - Duaso, Maria

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). Drug and Alcohol Review published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.

PY - 2025/9/3

Y1 - 2025/9/3

N2 - Introduction:Tobacco and cannabis are commonly co-used (i.e., used concurrently or co-administered) but rarely ‘co-addressed’ and few co-use interventions exist. Young adulthood presents a key age for intervening in substance use, therefore understanding young adults' perspective is crucial, but little is known about how they understand or experience co-use. This study aimed to explore factors influencing co-use and changes to use within a population of young adults in the UK. MethodsParticipants were young adults recruited via three Further Education (vocational) colleges, who reported past 6-month co-use. Individual semi-structured interviews were carried out and analysed using the Framework approach. ResultsEighteen participants were interviewed. Analysis identified influential factors, comprising three categories: (i) identity and social context including the concept of co-use; (ii) experiences; and (iii) understanding of effects. Family and peers were an important influence on use and cessation and young adults used their observation of peers' experiences to understand potential harms of each substance, as well as the complex relationship between cannabis use and mental health. Discussion and ConclusionsA broad range of factors influence co-use, and changes made to co-use, of tobacco and cannabis in young adults. Further investigation is needed to inform the development of co-use interventions. Credible co-use health risk information relevant to young adults, and the role of co-occurring mental health challenges need consideration in the development of co-use interventions.

AB - Introduction:Tobacco and cannabis are commonly co-used (i.e., used concurrently or co-administered) but rarely ‘co-addressed’ and few co-use interventions exist. Young adulthood presents a key age for intervening in substance use, therefore understanding young adults' perspective is crucial, but little is known about how they understand or experience co-use. This study aimed to explore factors influencing co-use and changes to use within a population of young adults in the UK. MethodsParticipants were young adults recruited via three Further Education (vocational) colleges, who reported past 6-month co-use. Individual semi-structured interviews were carried out and analysed using the Framework approach. ResultsEighteen participants were interviewed. Analysis identified influential factors, comprising three categories: (i) identity and social context including the concept of co-use; (ii) experiences; and (iii) understanding of effects. Family and peers were an important influence on use and cessation and young adults used their observation of peers' experiences to understand potential harms of each substance, as well as the complex relationship between cannabis use and mental health. Discussion and ConclusionsA broad range of factors influence co-use, and changes made to co-use, of tobacco and cannabis in young adults. Further investigation is needed to inform the development of co-use interventions. Credible co-use health risk information relevant to young adults, and the role of co-occurring mental health challenges need consideration in the development of co-use interventions.

KW - cannabis

KW - co-use

KW - mental health

KW - tobacco

KW - young adults

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105009258407

U2 - 10.1111/dar.70002

DO - 10.1111/dar.70002

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105009258407

SN - 0959-5236

VL - 44

SP - 1648

EP - 1657

JO - Drug and Alcohol Review

JF - Drug and Alcohol Review

IS - 6

ER -