Negative consequences associated with dependence in daily cannabis users.

Alison Looby,Mitch Earleywine

doi:10.1186/1747-597x-2-3

Abstract

BackgroundCannabis is the most widely consumed illicit substance in America, with increasing rates of use. Some theorists tend to link frequency of use with cannabis dependence. Nevertheless, fewer than half of daily cannabis users meet DSM-IV-TR criteria for cannabis dependence. This study seeks to determine whether the negative aspects associated with cannabis use can be explained by a proxy measure of dependence instead of by frequency of use.ResultsOver 2500 adult daily cannabis users completed an Internet survey consisting of measures of cannabis and other drug use, in addition to measures of commonly reported negative problems resulting from cannabis use. We compared those who met a proxy measure of DSM-IV-TR criteria for cannabis dependence (N = 1111) to those who did not meet the criteria (N = 1770). Cannabis dependent subjects consumed greater amounts of cannabis, alcohol, and a variety of other drugs. They also had lower levels of motivation, happiness, and satisfaction with life, with higher levels of depression and respiratory symptoms.ConclusionAlthough all of our subjects reported daily use, only those meeting proxy criteria for cannabis dependence reported significant associated problems. Our data suggest that dependence need not arise from daily use, but consuming larger amounts of cannabis and other drugs undoubtedly increases problems.

Highlights

Cannabis is the most widely consumed illicit substance in America, with increasing rates of use
The 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health demonstrated that only 13.5 percent of non-daily users were cannabis-dependent, as compared to 39.2 percent of daily users [6]
Estimating quantity of consumption is difficult for cannabis, they reported the number of joints they consumed per week

Summary

Introduction

Cannabis is the most widely consumed illicit substance in America, with increasing rates of use. Fewer than half of daily cannabis users meet DSM-IV-TR criteria for cannabis dependence. More people consume cannabis than any other illicit substance in America. In 2000, 76 percent of all current illicit drug users (14 million people) consumed cannabis [1]. Not all cannabis users meet the DSM-IV-TR criteria for dependence. One theory states that the frequency of cannabis use is associated with dependence [3,4]. The 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health demonstrated that only 13.5 percent of non-daily users were cannabis-dependent, as compared to 39.2 percent of daily users [6]. Daily users in this national survey had higher rates of dependence, more than half of the subjects (page number not for citation purposes)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion