The Interplay of Weed, Alcohol, and Relationship Satisfaction

A new study, published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, explored how marijuana and alcohol use affect relationship satisfaction, with a specific focus on heavy marijuana users and their partners.

Led by Margy Yumeng Chen from the University of Colorado Boulder, the research used a daily diary approach to assess how these substances impact couples’ relationship dynamics, especially when combined. This is a significant area of study, given the increasing normalization of marijuana use in the U.S. and the established research on alcohol’s varied effects on intimate relationships.

The study involved 33 couples who each completed an initial survey and then recorded daily data over a two-week period. Each partner noted whether they had used marijuana or alcohol the previous day and rated their relationship satisfaction on a five-point scale. This dyadic tracking approach allowed for a nuanced look at day-to-day shifts in relationship quality based on each partner’s substance use patterns. Couples were categorized into “concordant” (where both partners had similar substance use patterns) or “discordant” (where partners’ usage differed significantly).

Results showed a distinct pattern for heavy marijuana users: combining marijuana and alcohol led to decreased next-day relationship satisfaction. Conversely, alcohol use alone was associated with higher satisfaction the following day for these individuals and their partners. The absence of this pattern among light marijuana users suggests that the intensity of marijuana use is a key factor in how it interacts with relationship quality. Chen suggests that co-using marijuana and alcohol may have a more complex or problematic impact on relationship satisfaction than using either substance alone.

The study’s findings also reinforce the idea that individual substance use choices extend beyond personal impact, influencing the overall relationship dynamic. These insights are particularly relevant for couples navigating substance use together, as daily patterns of use can shape relationship quality. Chen hopes this research can help couples reflect on how their specific use patterns affect their interactions and explore healthier ways of engaging with each other around these choices.

While insightful, the study has some limitations. The sample largely consisted of white couples in long-term relationships between the ages of 30 and 40, which may limit generalizability to other demographics, such as younger or more diverse couples. Furthermore, since most couples in the study had discordant marijuana use patterns, the findings might not fully reflect the dynamics of couples with similar usage habits.