Alcohol and Cannabis Use Among Bisexual Adolescents Compared to Other Adolescents

LGBTQ+ adolescents face more substance use risk than straight peers; however, within-group differences remain understudied. This study analyzed 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data to compare alcohol and cannabis use between bisexual adolescents and their peers. Bisexual adolescents were 1.31x as likely to use alcohol as peers identifying “some other way” (95% CI [1.01, 1.52]). Cannabis use was 1.57x as likely among bisexual adolescents as straight adolescents (95% CI [1.48, 1.64]), 1.30x as likely as lesbian/gay adolescents (95% CI [1.02, 1.50]), and 1.64x as likely as peers unsure of their sexual identity (95% CI [1.46, 1.76]). Use of both substances was 1.54x as likely among bisexual adolescents as straight peers (95% CI [1.47, 1.61]) and 1.28x as likely as peers unsure of their sexual identity (95% CI [1.04, 1.45]). Findings support elevated cannabis use risk among bisexual adolescents. Bisexual-specific stressor awareness may enhance adolescent cannabis use prevention and reduction efforts.