Cannabis Use in Young Adults: The Role of Neighborhood Cohesion

Abstract

Objective: Existing evidence suggests a connection between neighborhood factors and substance use. Limited studies have evaluated the role of neighborhood cohesion among young adult populations, and of those that exist, results are mixed. Method: This study examines associations between perceived neighborhood cohesion and cannabis outcomes among a sample of young adults from New York State (N = 3,451). Results: Among all participants, 43.4% endorsed current (past-month) cannabis use, and 16.6% were classified as having possible cannabis use disorder (CUD). Increasing perceived neighborhood cohesion predicted less cannabis use (AOR = 0.96); however, no significant relationship was found for possible CUD. Conclusions: These findings suggest the potential value of interventions aimed at improving neighborhood cohesion to decrease cannabis use behaviors in young adults. More research is warranted to add to this understudied area.