A comparison of motives for marijuana and alcohol use among experienced users

Motivational models suggest that individuals use substances to achieve desi red effects, Given different pharmacological effects across drug classes, a nd variations in social context, one would expect that the motives instigat ing use differ by drug class. However, commonalties in motives across drugs have also been observed. The purpose of this study was to examine similari ties and differences across a common set of motives for alcohol and marijua na among experienced users of both drugs. Participants were 46 college stud ents (21 women) who completed a motives assessment twice, once for marijuan a and once for alcohol. All had used each drug 60 or more times in their li fetime. Social motives were more highly endorsed for alcohol than marijuana . Expansion motives were more highly endorsed for marijuana. Enhancement mo tives were more highly endorsed for marijuana than alcohol among women but not men. Endorsement of coping and conformity motives did not differ across drugs. Experienced users of marijuana and alcohol discriminate between the ir reasons for using the two drugs. These findings are discussed with regar d to the differentiation between and commonalties among substances of abuse . (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd.