Adverse Childhood Experiences and Current Cannabis Use among U.S. Young Adults

Cannabis use is an important public health issue among U.S. young adults. The objective of this study was to assess the associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and current cannabis use among U.S. young adults. We conducted a secondary analysis of the 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data, which involved 498 U.S. young adults 18-24 years old who had data available for analysis on ACEs and current cannabis use. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models were fitted to examine the associations between ACEs and current cannabis use. Adjusted models included participants’ sex, race/ethnicity, education level, and household income level. One-fourth (25.5%) of participants reported current cannabis use, and 21.3% reported one ACE, 25.2% reported 2-3 ACEs, and 38.4% reported ≥ 4 ACEs. Unadjusted (odds ratio [OR] = 4.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.91-9.33) and adjusted (adjusted OR [AOR] = 4.23, 95% CI = 1.57-11.38) model results indicated that participants who experienced ≥ 1 ACE were at increased odds of reporting current cannabis use than participants with no ACEs. Unadjusted (OR = 5.79, 95% CI = 2.40-14.00) and adjusted (AOR = 6.48, 95% CI = 2.15-19.55) model results indicated that participants who experienced ≥ 4 ACEs were at increased odds of reporting current cannabis use than participants with no ACEs. Adjusted model results revealed that experiencing living with a household member who had a mental illness or sexual abuse increased the odds of reporting current cannabis use. Results demonstrated relations among ACEs and current cannabis use in young adulthood, especially among those who experienced ≥ 4 ACEs and experienced living with a household member who had a mental illness or sexual abuse.