Are baby boomer women unique? The moderating effect of birth cohort on age in substance use patterns during midlife

Abstract

This study examined the relationships of age to use of alcohol, marijuana, and illicit drugs, and misuse of prescription drugs, among midlife women and whether these relationships are modified by birth cohort. Structural Equation Modeling was used to analyze National Survey on Drug Use and Health data, which included 2,035 baby boomer and silent generation cohort women, ages 30 to 55. Midlife women across cohorts reduced alcohol and marijuana use, but not illicit and prescription drug misuse, as they aged. A modifying effect of birth cohort was not supported, but findings did support differential aging effects across substances. Implications are discussed.

Cannabis use prevalence among Baby Boomers before and after implementation of recreational retail sales in California

“…Public health research suggests that cannabis legalization, whether recreational or medical or applicable to personal use or retail sales, has led to increased consumption [ 5 , 26 ], yet more data is needed to assess the magnitude, timing, and predictors of these effects [ 27 ]. Substance use has historically declined with aging (age effects), but substance use is also driven by generational trends (cohort effects) [ 7 , 28 ]. Since 1999 there have been calls for research on the prevalence of substance use among Baby Boomers as a cohort given their historically higher rates of use, the possibility of reduction in use over time due to age effects, and potential interactions with age-related health conditions [ 2 , 7 , 28 , 29 ].…”

“…Substance use has historically declined with aging (age effects), but substance use is also driven by generational trends (cohort effects) [ 7 , 28 ]. Since 1999 there have been calls for research on the prevalence of substance use among Baby Boomers as a cohort given their historically higher rates of use, the possibility of reduction in use over time due to age effects, and potential interactions with age-related health conditions [ 2 , 7 , 28 , 29 ]. Although existing research suggests that Baby Boomer cohort effects will result in increased prevalence of cannabis use [ 2 , 15 , 28 – 31 ], models of prevalence have not previously considered the potential effects of recreational legalization in this cohort, focusing instead on medical cannabis [ 28 , 30 , 32 ].…”

“…Since 1999 there have been calls for research on the prevalence of substance use among Baby Boomers as a cohort given their historically higher rates of use, the possibility of reduction in use over time due to age effects, and potential interactions with age-related health conditions [ 2 , 7 , 28 , 29 ]. Although existing research suggests that Baby Boomer cohort effects will result in increased prevalence of cannabis use [ 2 , 15 , 28 – 31 ], models of prevalence have not previously considered the potential effects of recreational legalization in this cohort, focusing instead on medical cannabis [ 28 , 30 , 32 ]. Past research has noted that identifying predictors of cannabis use, which can include policy changes, is critical to developing interventions for vulnerable populations [ 29 ].…”