Household Compositions and Substance Use among Young Adults in the U.S

Beth Han (), Naomi Tomoyasu, Emily B. Einstein, Christopher M. Jones and Wilson M. Compton
Additional contact information
Beth Han: National Institute on Drug Abuse, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Naomi Tomoyasu: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
Emily B. Einstein: National Institute on Drug Abuse, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Christopher M. Jones: Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
Wilson M. Compton: National Institute on Drug Abuse, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: Background: Adults aged 21–29 have the highest past-month prevalence of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use in the U.S. Currently, young adults often delay traditional adulthood milestones (e.g., marriage and childbearing), which may impact their household composition and substance use. Methods: We examined how the past-month prevalence of eight mutually exclusive substance use outcomes varied by household composition among young adults using the 2016–2019 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data. Bivariable and multivariable multinomial logistic regression analyses were applied. Results: Among young adults residing with their children, the most common household composition was residing with children and a spouse/partner (16.6%, 95% CI = 16.5–16.8%). Among those residing without children, common household compositions included residing with parents (22.8%, 95% CI = 22.2–23.4%) and residing only with a spouse/partner (17.9%, 95% CI = 17.6–18.3%). Past-month prevalence of binge alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use varied by household composition. Residing only with children and a spouse/partner was associated with a low prevalence of most examined substance use patterns. Across household compositions, those residing solely with unrelated individuals had the highest adjusted prevalence of tobacco, drug, and binge alcohol use (13.8%, 95% CI = 12.5–15.1%). Conclusions: The prevalence of substance use patterns among U.S. young adults varies by household composition. Those residing solely with unrelated individuals had the highest prevalence of tobacco, binge alcohol, and drug use. The presence of a young adult’s own children and a spouse/partner is associated with a lower prevalence of most examined substance use patterns. As household compositions continue to diversify, targeted substance use prevention/treatment strategies may be needed.

Keywords: binge alcohol use; tobacco use; drug use; residing with own children; residing with own children and a spouse or partner; residing solely with unrelated individuals; the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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