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Introduction: This paper examines associations between high-risk gun carrying and substance use in emerging adults (ages 18-22). The coexistence of these high-risk behaviours in a general population of emerging adults can have disastrous consequences., Methods: Dating it Safe is an ongoing longitudinal (2010-2016) survey of emerging adults recruited from seven high schools in five south-east Texas-area school districts (current sample n=684). Multiple logistic regression modelling was used to examine the association between past-year use of legal and illegal substances and past-year firearm carrying for a reason other than sport or hunting., Results: 6% of emerging adults carried firearms in the past year, with most (68%) carrying for protection. Use of cocaine, hallucinogens, methamphetamine, ecstasy and prescription medications in the past year, as well as episodic heavy drinking in the past month, was associated with increased risk of carrying a firearm (p<0.05 for all). After controlling for covariates, hallucinogens (OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.00 to 7.81), ecstasy (OR 3.66, 95% CI 1.32 to 10.14) and prescription medications (OR 2.85, 95% CI 1.22 to 6.68) remained associated with firearm carrying. Episodic heavy drinking was associated with firearm carrying, but only for those who had five or more episodes/month (OR 3.61, 95% CI 1.51 to 8.66)., Conclusions: In this community-based sample of emerging adults, firearm carrying, mostly for protection, was associated with a variety of past-year substance use behaviours. These findings extend previous research and suggest directions for further exploration of the clustering of high-risk behaviours in emerging adults., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.)

This study examined the association of ecstasy (methylenedioxy-methylamphethamine) use with psychopathology among young, low-income females who sought care at university family planning clinics in Texas between December 2001 and May 2003. Participants reported drug use history and eight problem behavior syndromes by using the Young Adult Self-Report. The prevalence of ecstasy use was approximately 15%. About 90% of ecstasy users reported having used other drugs. Overall, ecstasy users were more likely to have exhibited delinquent behaviors and thought problems than exclusive marijuana users. Ecstasy users who continued to use any illicit drugs showed the most severe psychopathology. These findings indicate that elevated rates of self-reported psychopathology among ecstasy users may be partly attributable to the use of multiple drugs. Furthermore, it will also be important for future studies to assess the extent to which delinquent behaviors and thought problems mediate the transition of marijuana use to ecstasy use.