scholarly journals COVID-19’s impact on cannabis use: Can we trust retrospective cross-sectional data?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Bartel ◽  
Simon Sherry ◽  
Sherry Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Change Scores ◽  
Subjective Change ◽  
Retrospective Reports ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Design And Methods ◽  
The Impact

Background: Emergent research suggests there has been an increase in cannabis use levels during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, several gaps remain. It is unclear what impact the pandemic has had on the frequency vs. quantity of cannabis use. Additionally, research has not focused on emerging adults, a population often more likely to use cannabis. Moreover, as existing studies are cross-sectional and retrospective, it is not clear whether participant reports of increasing cannabis use during COVID-19 are accurate. We sought to fill these gaps to provide further information about the impact of COVID-19 on cannabis use and the accuracy of related retrospective self-reports. Design and Methods: Seventy emerging adults in an ongoing longitudinal study on alcohol and cannabis users completed surveys on COVID-19 and substance use between March 23rd-June 5th. Their substance use four months earlier was extracted from the existing dataset. Results: 54% of participants reported an increase in cannabis use frequency during the pandemic, while 39% reported an increase in cannabis quantity. An examination of objective change scores indicated 50% of participants actually increased their cannabis use frequency during the pandemic, while 32% actually increased their cannabis quantity. A comparison of retrospective subjective change with longitudinal objective change scores indicated participants were relatively accurate in their retrospective reports of change in cannabis use frequency but were relatively inaccurate in their retrospective reports of change in cannabis use quantity. Discussion: The COVID-19 pandemic appears to increase cannabis use frequency in the slight majority of cannabis using emerging adults. Our results suggest that retrospective cross-sectional reports may be a reasonable proxy for COVID-19 related cannabis use change in the case of cannabis use frequency. But our results question their use for determining how the pandemic is impacting cannabis use quantity. Importantly, our results suggest the COVID-19 pandemic poses health threats that extend beyond the virus itself. It is essential that public health efforts address the increasing frequency of cannabis use in emerging adult users.

scholarly journals Factors Associated With Cannabis Use During the Reproductive Cycle: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study of Women in States With Recreational and Medical Cannabis Legalization

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danica Loralyn Taylor ◽  
Janice F. Bell ◽  
Susan L. Adams ◽  
Christiana Drake
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Prenatal Care ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Provider Education ◽  
Substance Use Prevention ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Adequacy Of Prenatal Care ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction Passage of cannabis laws may impact cannabis use and the use of other substances. The suggested association is of particular concern in pregnant women where exposure to substances can cause harm to both the pregnant woman and fetus. The present study contributes to the minimal literature on factors associated with cannabis use during the preconception, prenatal, and postpartum periods including state legalization status, concurrent use of tobacco and e-cigarettes and adequacy of prenatal care. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using combined survey data from the 2016–2018 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) collected from 36,391 women. Logistic regression was used to estimate the impact of state-legalization, adequacy of prenatal care, and other substance use on cannabis use during the preconception, prenatal, and post-partum periods. Results In the preconception model, residence in a recreationally legal state (OR: 2.37; 95% CI, 2.04–2.75) or medically legal state (OR:3.32; 95% CI, 2.90–3.80) compared to a non-legal state was associated with higher odds of cannabis use. In the prenatal model, residence in a recreationally legal state was associated with higher odds of cannabis use (OR: 1.51; 95% CI, 1.29–1.79) whereas there was no association with residence in a medically legal state. Tobacco use including e-cigarettes and moderate prenatal alcohol use were also significantly associated with cannabis use. Conclusion Recreational cannabis legalization is associated with the use of cannabis prior to, during, and after pregnancy. Renewed clinical and policy efforts may be warranted to update prenatal substance use prevention programs, educational campaigns, and provider education as cannabis legalization evolves.

scholarly journals Substance Use and Physical Health in Patients with Bipolar Disorder Under Maintenance Treatment

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.P. Garcia-Portilla ◽  
P.A. Saiz ◽  
G. Florez ◽  
M.T. Bascaran ◽  
S. Al-Halabi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Score Function ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Chd Risk ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
The Impact

Background:To date, little is known about the impact of substance use on physical health of patients with bipolar disorder. This study provides data on the impact of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis upon weight, metabolic profile and cardiovascular risk in these patients.Methods:Naturalistic, cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted in Spain. Current use of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis was registered based on patient’ self-reports. Patients were evaluated for presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) according to modified NCEP ATP III criteria, for cardiovascular risk using the Framinghan function (CHD) and the Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) function (CMR).Results:The mean age was 46.6 years and 49% were male. Fitty-one percent used tobacco, 13% alcohol and 12.5% cannabis. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.9 kg/m2, 22.4% had MetS and ten-year CHD and CMR risks were 7.6% and 1.8% respectively. Patients who used tobacco had significantly higher CHD risk (8.82 versus 5.74, p < 0.01), and used more antipsychotic (1.23 versus 1.04, p 0.002) and overall (3.18 versus 2.71, p 0.01) drugs for the treatment of their bipolar disorder. Patients who used cannabis had significantly lower BMI (26.0 versus 28.2, p < 0.05) and lower CMR (0.37 versus 1.99, p < 0.001), however, when controlling by age, severity of mania and presence of metabolic syndrome these associations disappear.Conclusions:Substance use, mainly tobacco, is high in patients with bipolar disorder. Use of tobacco is associated with higher cardiovascular risk and greater number of antipsychotic and overall drugs for the bipolar disorder.

Improvement in psychological wellbeing among adolescents with a substance use disorder attending an outpatient treatment programme

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
N.M. Gamage ◽  
C. Darker ◽  
B.P. Smyth
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Substance Use Treatment ◽  
Disruptive Behaviour ◽  
Treatment Programme ◽  
The Impact

Objectives: Adolescents with substance use disorders (SUDs) exhibit high rates of comorbid psychological problems. This study aimed to examine the impact of an outpatient substance use treatment programme upon the psychological wellbeing of adolescents. Methods: A prospective study was carried out examining psychological symptoms in a group of adolescents attending the Youth Drug and Alcohol (YoDA) Addiction Service in Dublin. Participants were treated with evidenced based psychological models such as cognitive behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing and systemic family therapy. The Becks Youth Inventory was utilised to assess psychological symptoms at treatment entry and repeated three months later at follow up. Results: Among 36 adolescents who were included in this study, poly-substance misuse was the norm. Almost three-quarter had a cannabis use disorder (CUD). There were significant reductions in mean subscale scores of depression (56.0 to 50.8, p = 0.003), anger (55.2 to 49.5, p < 0.001) and disruptive behaviour (61.6 to 56.5, p = 0.002) at follow up. Although there wasn’t a statistically significant reduction in mean scores for anxiety, we observed a significant proportion of participants (p = 0.008) improving and moving out of a moderate to severe symptom range when examined by category. This was also the case for self-concept (p = 0.04). Furthermore this study revealed a positive correlation between the reduction in days of cannabis use and reduction in depressive scores (Pearson correlation 0.49, p = 0.01) among those with a CUD. Conclusion: The findings indicate that substance use treatment for adolescents is associated with important psychological and behavioural improvements.

Cannabis Use, Age of Initiation, and Neurocognitive Performance: Findings from a Large Sample of Heavy Drinking Emerging Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 533-545
Author(s):  
Melissa Parlar ◽  
Emily MacKillop ◽  
Tashia Petker ◽  
James Murphy ◽  
James MacKillop
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Heavy Drinking ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Neurocognitive Functioning ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Neurocognitive Performance ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Large Sample

AbstractObjective:To evaluate the associations between cannabis use and neurocognitive functioning, including self-reported attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, in a large sample of emerging adults (ages 21–25) using a cross-sectional design. A secondary objective was to examine age of cannabis initiation as a moderator.Methods:Participants were high-risk drinking emerging adults (n = 598) reporting past-month cannabis use in the following categories: 1) non-users (i.e., never or not in the past month; n = 276), 2) occasional users (i.e., monthly or weekly users; n = 201), and 3) daily users (n = 121). Categorical comparisons were conducted on working memory, attention, behavioral inhibition, delay and probability discounting, verbal intelligence, and ADHD symptoms. Complementary dimensional analyses examined cannabis severity in relation to neurocognition using regressions. Covariates were age, race, sex, income, years of education, tobacco use, and alcohol use.Results:Frequency of cannabis use was significantly associated with poorer working memory performance, more impulsive delay discounting, and greater endorsement of ADHD symptoms, but not other domains. Effect sizes were small and poorer performance was selectively present among daily, not occasional, cannabis users. Earlier age of initiation was not independently or interactively associated with neurocognitive performance.Conclusions:Daily cannabis use was selectively adversely associated with aspects of memory, impulsivity, and subjective attentional functioning, but most cognitive indicators were not implicated, and evidence of amplification by earlier age of initiation was not observed. Ascertaining causal versus consequential roles of cannabis in neurocognitive functioning is an important priority.

scholarly journals The Impact of Legalization of Access to Recreational Cannabis on Canadian Medical Users with Cancer.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippa Helen Hawley ◽  
Monica Gobbo ◽  
Narsis Afghari
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
P Value ◽  
Medical Cannabis ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Access System ◽  
Patterns Of Use ◽  
Barriers To Access ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Canada legalized cannabis use for medical purposes in 1999. Legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes in October 2018 offered the opportunity to assess the impact of recreational legalization on cancer patients’ patterns of use to identify learning points that could be helpful to other countries considering similar legislation.Method Two identical anonymous cross-sectional surveys were administered to cancer patients in British Columbia (2 months before and 3 months following legalization), with the same eligibility criteria. The prevalence of medical cannabis use, the distribution of symptoms leading to use, the most common types of cannabis products and sources, reasons for stopping using cannabis, and barriers to access were assessed.Results The overall response rate was 27%. Both cohorts were similar regarding age (median= 66yrs), gender (53% female), and education (approximately 85% of participants had an education level of high school graduation and higher). Respondents had multiple motives for taking cannabis, including to manage multiple symptoms, to treat cancer, and for recreational reasons. The majority of patients in both surveys did not use the legal medical access system. Comparison of the two cohorts showed that after legalization the prevalence of current cannabis use increased by 26% (23·1% to 29·1%, p-value 0·01), including an increased disclosure of recreational motive for use, from 32% to 40%. However, in the post-legalization cohort more Current Users reported problems getting cannabis (18%) than the pre-legalization cohort (8%), (p-value <0·01). The most common barrier cited was lack of available preferred products, including edibles, as these were only available from illegal dispensaries. Conclusions Results showed that legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes may have an impact on those who use medical cannabis. Impacts include an increase in prevalence of use; problems accessing preferred products legally; higher cost, and difficulties using a legal access system. The desired goal of regulation in reducing harms from use of illegal cannabis products are unlikely to be achieved if the legal process is less attractive to patients than use of illegal sources.

scholarly journals Adolescent sibling associations among alcohol, cannabis, and sexual risk behavior: A test of interdependence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Thomas ◽  
Lauren Micalizzi ◽  
Samuel N. Meisel ◽  
Dayna Price ◽  
Anthony Spirito
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Risk Behavior ◽  
Sexual Risk ◽  
Sexual Risk Behavior ◽  
Risky Sexual Behavior ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Actor Partner Interdependence Model ◽  
Partner Effect

Although siblings are conceptualized as a salient social influence during adolescence, few studies have examined how adolescent siblings influence each other’s substance use and risky sexual behavior. This study’s objective was to investigate the influence of alcohol use days, cannabis use days, and cannabis and alcohol co-use days on the sexual risk behavior of siblings while accounting for dyadic influence. At the baseline visit for a randomized controlled trial for adolescents referred due to parents’ concerns about their substance use (“referred adolescents”; n=99; Mage=15.95), we assessed alcohol and cannabis use days as well as sexual risk behavior of the referred adolescents and their sibling (Mage=15.03). We computed the number of days in the 30 days prior to the baseline that alcohol and cannabis use occurred on the same day. Using a cross-sectional actor partner interdependence model, we tested two models of how adolescents’ substance use is associated with their own (“actor effect”) and their siblings’ (“partner effect”) sexual risk behavior—one model for alcohol and cannabis use, and one model for co-use. Results indicated for referred adolescents and their siblings, within an individual, greater alcohol, cannabis, and co-use was significantly associated with sexual risk behavior (actor effects). Furthermore, more sibling co-use days were positively associated with referred adolescent sexual risk behavior (partner effect), representing interdependence. These findings confirm the influence siblings have on one another’s risky behavior in adolescence and have implications for prevention and intervention efforts for adolescent substance use.

scholarly journals Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Associated Factors among Khat Chewers in Amhara Region, Northwest Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Seyfe Asrade Atnafie ◽  
Niguse Yigzaw Muluneh ◽  
Kefyalew Ayalew Getahun ◽  
Asegedech Tsegaw Woredekal ◽  
Wubayehu Kahaliw
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Chronic Illness ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Amhara Region ◽  
Depression Anxiety Stress Scale ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Khat Chewing ◽  
Prevalence Of Depression ◽  
The Impact

Individuals with substance use disorder are prone to develop different psychiatric disorders. Substance abuse and associated problems are of current global concern that leads to mental health disorders which contributed about 14% of the global burden of the disease. It has become an epidemic in some parts of the African region with adolescents being the main victims of the ill health and social effects of substance use. This study is aimed at assessing the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress and associated factors among khat chewers in the Amhara region, 2019. A community-based cross-sectional study was done from February 14 to April 15, 2019. A purposive sampling technique was used to enroll the subjects. Data was collected using the face-to-face interview technique using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to summarize the results. p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 478 participants were enrolled in the study with a response rate of 94.1%. The overall prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 27.4%, 40.6%, and 18.8%, respectively. Around 43% of the respondents develop dependency from khat chewing. Working in a private sector, being self-employed, being jobless, spending 90 to 180 minutes and more, chewing 51-100 g and more, and chewing khat more than once per week were positively associated with stress. On the other hand, being a private sector worker, being jobless, completing secondary education, earning 1001-5000 ETB per month, chewing khat more than once per week, being khat dependent, and the presence of chronic illness were positively associated with anxiety. History of chronic illness and being khat dependent were positively associated with depression. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was high among khat chewers in the Amhara region. Special attention has to be given to khat chewers since khat chewing will double the burden of mental illness. Proper awareness and evaluation activities will reduce the impact of the problem.

scholarly journals Cannabis use and work-related injuries: a cross-sectional analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (8) ◽  
pp. 570-577
Author(s):  
J C Zhang ◽  
N Carnide ◽  
L Holness ◽  
P Cram
Keyword(s):  
Injury Risk ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Cannabis User ◽  
Occupational Groups ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Cross Sectional Analysis ◽  
Work Related Injury ◽  
Sectional Analysis ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Although the association of cannabis use with automobile accidents has been well-studied, the impact of cannabis on workplace safety and injuries is less clear. Aims The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between work-related injury and cannabis use in the past year. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the Canadian Community Health Survey (2013–16) of working individuals. We used multiple logistic regression modelling to calculate the odds of experiencing a work-related injury (defined as non-repetitive strain injury) among workers who reported using cannabis more than once during the prior 12 months as compared to non-users. We repeated the analysis among participants working in high injury risk occupational groups only. Results Among the 136 536 working participants, 2577 (2%) had a work-related injury in the last 12 months. Of these 2577 who had a work-related injury, 4% also reported being a cannabis user in the same period. We found no association between past-year cannabis use and work-related injury (odds ratio for work injury among users 0.81, 95% confidence interval 0.66–0.99). The association was unchanged in the subgroup analysis limited to high injury risk occupational groups. Conclusions We found no evidence that cannabis users experienced higher rates of work-related injuries. While awaiting prospective studies, occupational medicine practitioners should take a risk-based approach to drafting workplace cannabis policies.

scholarly journals Substance use, affective symptoms, and suicidal ideation among Russian, Somali, and Kurdish migrants in Finland

2020 ◽  
pp. 136346152090602
Author(s):  
Essi Salama ◽  
Anu E. Castaneda ◽  
Jaana Suvisaari ◽  
Shadia Rask ◽  
Tiina Laatikainen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
General Population ◽  
Binge Drinking ◽  
Migrant Health ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Daily Smoking ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Affective Symptoms

Comorbidity of substance use with affective symptoms and suicidality has been well documented in the general population. However, population-based migrant studies about this association are scarce. We examined the association of affective symptoms and suicidal ideation with binge drinking, daily smoking, and lifetime cannabis use among Russian, Somali, and Kurdish migrants in comparison with the Finnish general population. Cross-sectional data from the Finnish Migrant Health and Wellbeing Study (Maamu, n = 1307) and comparison group data of the general Finnish population ( n = 860) from the Health 2011 Survey were used. Substance use included self-reported current binge drinking, daily smoking, and lifetime cannabis use. Affective symptoms and suicidal ideation were measured using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25). We performed multivariate logistic regression analyses, including age, gender, and additional socio-demographic and migration-related factors. Suicidal ideation (OR 2.4 95% CI 1.3–4.3) was associated with binge drinking among Kurds and lifetime cannabis use among Russians (OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.9–17.0) and Kurds (OR 5.5, 95% CI 1.9–15.6). Affective symptoms were associated with daily smoking (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.02–2.6) and lifetime cannabis use (OR 6.1, 95% CI 2.6–14.5) among Kurdish migrants. Our results draw attention to the co-occurrence of suicidal ideation, affective symptoms, and substance use, especially among Kurdish migrants. These results highlight the variation of comorbidity of substance use and affective symptoms between the different populations. This implies that screening for substance use in mental healthcare cannot be neglected based on presumed habits of substance use.

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