THC On a Glass: A Cross-Sectional Study of Consumption Patterns Across Sex Demographics

Rosa Martha Felipe Hidalgo
University of Central Florida

Co-authors: Rosa Felipe Hidalgo¹, Brandon Zamora¹, Jennifer Attonito¹, Sixiao Vivian Liu¹, Karina Villalba^1
1University of Central Florida

Background: Hemp-derived THC beverages, including THC seltzers, sodas, and other infused drinks, have expanded in the U.S. marketplace. However, little is known about who uses these products or whether patterns of use and associated substance use risk differ by sex among young adults.

Objective: To examine demographic characteristics, patterns of hemp-derived THC beverage use, and substance use risk by sex among young adults in the United States.

Methods: This ongoing online cross-sectional study is recruiting 400 U.S. young adults (ages 21-45) who use hemp-derived THC beverages via Qualtrics research panels. This analysis includes the first 40 participants enrolled. Demographic characteristics, cannabinoid preferences, and alcohol and cannabis use behaviors were compared by sex using chi-square tests and independent-samples t-tests. Statistical significance set at p < .05.

Results: Participants were primarily male (60%) and White (83%); 22% identified as Hispanic or Latino and 15% as Black. Most participants were single (48%), 62% had completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree, and 58% reported household incomes greater than $50,000. Men and women reported similar duration of hemp-derived THC beverage use in the past 12 months (men: M = 8.5 months, SD = 2.7; women: M = 8.0 months, SD= 3.0), and 93% of the sample reported use in the past 30 days, with no significant sex differences. Among past-30-day users, men reported more days of use on average than women, although it was not statistically significant (men: M = 11.0, SD = 5.1; women: M= 9.0, SD = 3.7; p = 210). Typical-day (2 beverages) and heaviest-day consumption (5 beverages) also did not differ significantly by sex. Those who reported using 5 mg beverages, women were slightly higher (55% vs. 45%), however for the 10 mg beverages, men were the majority (77% vs. 23% women). Men scored significantly higher than women on measures of hazardous alcohol use (AUDIT) and hazardous cannabis use(CUDIT). AUDIT (men: M = 10.1, SD = 7.5; women: M = 4.3, SD = 5.6; p = .014) and CUDIT (men: M = 8.5, SD = 8.5; women: M = 4.6, SD = 3.2; p = .009).

Conclusion: In this preliminary sample, men and women showed similar use duration, frequency, and quantity, but men reported significantly more hazardous alcohol and cannabis use, suggesting sex-related differences in substance use risk. As we continue to recruit, the study will yield more robust results describing this emerging trend.