Beyond: Substance Use Bolivia

Beyond Consumption: Understanding Polysubstance Use Among Bolivian Young Adults

The simultaneous use of alcohol and marijuana is increasing among young adults in Bolivia, reflecting patterns observed in Latino populations in the United States. Alcohol remains the most commonly used substance among Bolivian youth, followed by marijuana, whose use is also on the rise. However, there is a critical gap in research on concurrent and simultaneous alcohol and marijuana use (SAM) in Bolivia.

Studies in the U.S. indicate that SAM use is particularly common among young people, men, and individuals with lower socioeconomic status, and is associated with greater substance-related problems such as binge drinking, cognitive impairment, and a heightened risk of mental health disorders.

Risk and protective factors play a key role in patterns of polysubstance use, yet they have not been thoroughly studied in Bolivia. In the U.S., individual-level factors such as high stress levels, mental health problems, and lack of social support have been identified as increasing the likelihood of SAM use, while strong family structures and positive social environments act as protective factors.

To develop effective interventions, it is essential to examine key psychological mechanisms, such as emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, and both adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies. Studies suggest that poor emotion regulation contributes to cannabis use and that impulsivity plays a significant role in high-risk substance use behaviors.

The findings from this study will contribute to the scientific understanding of how risk and protective factors interact and influence polysubstance use and the development of substance use disorders (SUD) among Bolivian youth.

By identifying modifiable intervention targets, this study will inform evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies tailored to Bolivia’s sociocultural context, with implications for broader public health initiatives aimed at reducing substance abuse and its associated consequences.

Study Objectives:

Objective 1: To determine the longitudinal associations between individual- and interpersonal-level risk and protective factors at baseline, patterns of polysubstance use (simultaneous and concurrent), and substance use disorders (SUD) (alcohol and marijuana) among young adults at risk of developing SUD.

Objective 2: To identify key modifiable intervention targets by assessing the mediating effects of multiple components on potential pathways involving individual and interpersonal risk and protective factors and patterns of polysubstance use among young adults at risk of developing SUD.