Fuente: PubMed "Cannabis" Subst Use Misuse. 2026 May 11:1-9. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2026.2670608. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Simultaneous alcohol and cannabis (SAC) use is a significant public health concern among college students. This study examined whether unmet need for mental health treatment mediates the associations between psychological distress and 1) past 30-day SAC use, and 2) past-year co-occurring alcohol and cannabis use disorders.METHODS: College students aged 18-22 from the 2010-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health study (N = 44,865; weighted N = 103,006,994). Psychological distress (independent variable) was measured using the Kessler-6 scale. The mediator was past-year unmet need for mental health treatment (binary). Outcome variables were binary indicators of past 30-day SAC use and past-year co-occurring alcohol and cannabis use disorders. Weighted generalized structural equation modeling was conducted to examine associations.RESULTS: Higher levels of psychological distress were associated with higher odds of SAC use and co-occurring alcohol and cannabis use disorders (total effect: ORs = 1.0038 [CI = 1.0032-1.0043]; 1.0030 [1.0027-1.0033]; respectively; both ps < 0.001). Unmet treatment need mediated these associations, explaining 23.59% and 13.11% of the effects, respectively (indirect effects: ORs = 1.0009 [CI = 1.0007-1.0011]; 1.0004 [CI = 0.0003-1.0005]; Sobel test both ps < 0.001).CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the relevance of mental health care access in understanding the connection between psychological distress and SAC use and co-occurring alcohol and cannabis use disorders among college students.PMID:42113816 | DOI:10.1080/10826084.2026.2670608