Understanding Changes in Social Cannabis Use among Young Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Social Network Analysis

Abstract

Introduction. As the COVID-19 pandemic has caused historic morbidity and mortality and disrupted young people’s social relationships, little is known regarding change in young adults’ social cannabis use following social distancing orders, or other factors associated with such changes before and during the pandemic. Methods. 108 young adult cannabis users in Los Angeles reported on their personal (egocentric) social network characteristics, cannabis use, and pandemic-related variables before (July 2019 – March 2020) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (August 2020 – August 2021). Multinomial logistic regression identified factors associated with increasing or maintaining the number of network members (alters) participants used cannabis with before and during the pandemic. Multilevel modeling identified ego- and alter-level factors associated with dyadic cannabis use between each ego and alter during the pandemic. Results.  Most participants (61%) decreased the number of alters they used cannabis with, 14% maintained, and 25% increased. Larger networks were associated with a lower risk of increasing (vs. decreasing); more supportive cannabis-using alters was associated with a lower risk of maintaining (vs. decreasing); relationship duration was associated with a greater risk of maintaining and increasing (vs. decreasing). During the COVID-19 pandemic (August 2020 – August 2021), participants were more likely to use cannabis with alters they also used alcohol with and alters who were perceived to have more positive attitudes towards cannabis. Conclusions.  The present study identifies significant factors associated with changes in young adults’ social cannabis use following pandemic-related social distancing. These findings may inform social network interventions for young adults who use cannabis with their network members amid such social restrictions.