Residential Greenness and Substance Use
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Research has identified positive associations between green space and health and green space and mental health. Substance use outcomes, however, have received considerably less attention.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between residential greenness and patterns of substance use among transitional aged youth (age 15-25) in Canada.
METHODS: This study utilized three waves (2016-2018) of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) as well as residential greenness data from the Canadian Urban Environmental Health Consortium (CANUE). Multivariable regression was used to explore variation in the pattern of substance use between greenness quartiles. The sample included 14,070 transitional aged youth.
RESULTS: Higher levels of residential greenness were associated with lower odds of frequent binge drinking, lower odds of tobacco use, and greater odds for marijuana use.
CONCLUSION: Living in greener neighborhoods may confer benefits to substance use tendencies among transitional aged youth.