The second most widely used intoxicant among teens is marijuana [47], which is frequently used in combination with alcohol [61], but the potential additive, interactive, or protective role of concomitant marijuana use on any neural effects of adolescent binge drinking is unknown. Adolescent marijuana use has been linked to abnormalities in neurocognition and brain function [42,57,67,81,94], and the use of both substances appears related to anomalous brain function [59,82]. However, little is known about how the common pattern of use of these two substances together may relate to adolescent white matter development. Examining white matter tissue in adolescents who engage in binge drinking and marijuana use will help us better understand the neuropathological effects of the most common substance intake behaviors of teens.
