An examination of how age of onset for alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco are associated with physical activity, screen time and BMI as students are preparing to graduate from high school.
Prev Med Rep 2019;
15:100956. [PMID:
31417843 PMCID:
PMC6692055 DOI:
10.1016/j.pmedr.2019.100956]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction
In this study we examined the co-occurrence of alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco among a large cohort of grade 12 students in Canada, and then explored if the age of initiation of these substances was associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), screen time, and BMI.
Methods
This cross-sectional study used student-level data from grade 12 students in years 1 to 5 (2012–2016) of the COMPASS study. Random intercept linear regression models were used to examine the impact of age of initiation of alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco use on student average daily physical activity, daily screen time and BMI.
Results
Twenty-eight percent of students had only tried one substance with alcohol being the most reported single substance used (25%). The most common co-occurrence was students reporting having tried all three substances (27%). Nineteen percent of students reported no substance use by grade 12.
Younger age of first use of alcohol was associated with increased MVPA in grade 12. Earlier initiation of cannabis and tobacco were associated with increased screen time in grade 12. Age of first use of alcohol, cannabis and tobacco were not associated with BMI in grade 12.
Conclusion
While no specific cut-off age was identified this study indicates that for every year tobacco and cannabis use are delayed among children, there are subsequent reductions to screen time in grade 12. Early initiation of alcohol was associated with increased MVPA in grade 12. Early initiation of alcohol, cannabis and tobacco were not associated with BMI in grade 12.
Less than 1 in 5 students reported no substance use by grade 12.
75% of students had tried alcohol by the end of high school.
Initiating cannabis and tobacco earlier was associated with increased screen time.
Age of first use of all substances not associated with BMI in grade 12.
Initiating alcohol use at a younger age was associated with more MVPA in grade 12.
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