Onset Of Cannabis Use Research Articles

School-related Promotive Factors Related to Cannabis Use Among American Indian Adolescents.

Reservation-dwelling American Indian adolescents are at exceedingly high risk for cannabis use. Prevention initiatives to delay onset and escalation of use are needed. School engagement and student's positive experiences at school have been identified as key promotive factors against cannabis use in the general population of adolescents, but little work has examined these factors among American Indian youth. Seven school-related promotive factors were examined as predictors of past 30-day cannabis use (measured 6 months later), controlling for previous onset of cannabis use as well as a set of relevant potential confounders. Models were tested using 280 adolescents in 6th or 7th grade at the start of the study from two reservation-based schools in the US. Students were surveyed three times, with 6 months in between each survey. The average age at the start of the study was 11.99 years (SD = 0.87) and 54% of participants were female. Using a cumulative logit model to predict past 30-day use, American Indian youth who reported greater school bonding, academic aspirations, proclivity to endeavor in their studies, and interest in school at Wave 2 reported less 30-day cannabis use at Wave 3 (controlling for onset of cannabis at Wave 1 and several other control variables). No evidence of an effect of self-reported grades, perceived safety, or participation in school-related extracurricular activities was found. Given substantial deterioration of these school-related promotive factors over time, and the effect of the school-related promotive factors on subsequent cannabis use, efforts to design and test interventions to promote school engagement as a protective measure against cannabis use is warranted.

Tell me who your friends are?! The mediating role of friends' use in cannabis abuse.

Objectives To evaluate the relationship between age at onset of cannabis use and cannabis abuse in a sample of Portuguese cannabis users, testing the mediating role of the number of friends using cannabis and comparing these relationships between male and female subsets.Method A sample of 529 Portuguese cannabis users comprising 276 males and 244 females aged from 14 to 21 years completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST), and answered four questions related to cannabis use. Data were analyzed using the PROCESS macro in SPSS version 26.0.Results Age at onset of cannabis use was negatively related to the number of friends using cannabis, while the number of friends using cannabis had a positive relationship with cannabis abuse. As predicted, the number of friends using cannabis seems to have a mediating role in the relationship between cannabis onset age use and cannabis abuse, since the indirect effect was found to be significant. The pattern of the relationships among the variables observed was found to be similar for both male and female subsets of the sample. However, males reported higher cannabis abuse than females.Conclusion The results highlight the mediating role of friends’ use of cannabis in the relationship between age at onset of cannabis use and users’ abuse. These results highlight the importance of early intervention in cannabis use. In particular, the pattern of the relationships observed among the studied variables emphasizes the need to monitor and conduct peer training interventions or interventions to promote of social skills.

Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines (LRCUG) for reducing health harms from non-medical cannabis use: A comprehensive evidence and recommendations update.

Cannabis use is common, especially among young people, and is associated with risks for various health harms. Some jurisdictions have recently moved to legalization/regulation pursuing public health goals. Evidence-based 'Lower Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines' (LRCUG) and recommendations were previously developed to reduce modifiable risk factors of cannabis-related adverse health outcomes; related evidence has evolved substantially since. We aimed to review new scientific evidence and to develop comprehensively up-to-date LRCUG, including their recommendations, on this evidence basis. Targeted searches for literature (since 2016) on main risk factors for cannabis-related adverse health outcomes modifiable by the user-individual were conducted. Topical areas were informed by previous LRCUG content and expanded upon current evidence. Searches preferentially focused on systematic reviews, supplemented by key individual studies. The review results were evidence-graded, topically organized and narratively summarized; recommendations were developed through an iterative scientific expert consensus development process. A substantial body of modifiable risk factors for cannabis use-related health harms were identified with varying evidence quality. Twelve substantive recommendation clusters and three precautionary statements were developed. In general, current evidence suggests that individuals can substantially reduce their risk for adverse health outcomes if they delay the onset of cannabis use until after adolescence, avoid the use of high-potency (THC) cannabis products and high-frequency/-intensity of use, and refrain from smoking-routes for administration. While young people are particularly vulnerable to cannabis-related harms, other sub-groups (e.g., pregnant women, drivers, older adults, those with co-morbidities) are advised to exercise particular caution with use-related risks. Legal/regulated cannabis products should be used where possible. Cannabis use can result in adverse health outcomes, mostly among sub-groups with higher-risk use. Reducing the risk factors identified can help to reduce health harms from use. The LRCUG offer one targeted intervention component within a comprehensive public health approach for cannabis use. They require effective audience-tailoring and dissemination, regular updating as new evidence become available, and should be evaluated for their impact.

Association between Non-Medical Cannabis Use and Anxiety Disorders in Women

Introduction: Non-medical cannabis use and anxiety disorders are highly prevalent among Canadian women; however, the direction of this assocation remains controversial. The objective of this article is to provide an evidencebased update regarding the effect of non-medical cannabis on anxiety symptoms in women. Methods: A literature search was conducted using PsychINFO and MEDLINE for articles related to cannabis and marijuana use among women with anxiety or anxiety disorders. Only English language literature from 2010 to 2020 was reviewed. Studies including patients under the age of 18 and studies addressing medical cannabis were excluded. Four studies met our inclusion criteria for this review. Results: Cannabis use and anxiety disorders are both highly prevalent among young women. Other substance use in addition to cannabis is frequently reported by women. Reasons for cannabis use by women with anxiety differed from those of men. Findings did not show a direct association between cannabis use and anxiety symptoms. Women who used cannabis did not report higher rates of anxiety nor did anxiety predict the onset of cannabis use. Conclusion: There is no evidence to indicate that non-medical cannabis use worsens anxiety symptoms among women. Further studies should focus on reducing potential confounding factors and developing a reliable method of quantifying cannabis use in order to determine the direction of the interaction between cannabis and anxiety disorders among women.

Age-specific rates of onset of cannabis use in Mexico

BackgroundOver the previous two decades, the lifetime prevalence of cannabis use has risen among Mexico’s population. AimsEstimate the sex- and age-specific rates of onset of cannabis use over time. DesignFive nationally representative cross-sectional surveys, the Mexican National Surveys of Addictions (1998, 2002, 2008, 2012) and the Mexican National Survey on Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco Consumption (2016). SettingMexico. ParticipantsPooled sample of 141,342 respondents aged between 12 and 65 years of which 43.6%(n = 61,658) are male and 56.4% (n = 79,684) are female. MeasurementsWe estimated the age-specific rates of onset of cannabis as the conditional rate of consuming cannabis for the first time at a specific age. MethodsTime-to-event flexible-parametric models with spline specifications of the hazard function. Stratified analysis by sex and control for temporal trends by year of data collection or decennial birth cohort. FindingsAge-specific rates of onset of cannabis use per 1,000 individuals increased over time for females and males. Peak rates of onset of cannabis use per 1,000 ranged from 0.935 (95%CI = [0.772, 1.148]) in 1998, to 5.391 (95%CI = [4.924, 5.971]) in 2016 for females; and from 7.513 (95%CI = [6.732, 10.063]) in 1998, to 26.107 (95%CI = [25.918,30.654]) in 2016 for males. Across decennial birth-cohorts, peak rates of onset of cannabis use per 1,000 individuals for females ranged from 0.234 (95%CI = [0.078, 0.768]) for those born in the 1930s, to 14.611 (95%CI = [13.243, 16.102]) for those born in the 1990s; and for males, from 4.086 (95%CI = [4.022, 7.857]) for those born in the 1930s, to 38.693 (95%CI = [24.847, 48.670]) for those born in the 1990s. ConclusionRates of onset of cannabis increased over the previous two decades for both females and males but remained higher for males. Across recent cohorts, the rates of onset have increased at a faster rate among females than males.

Does Parents' Age at First Birth Moderate Intergenerational Continuity in Early-Onset Cannabis Use?

The aims of this brief report were to examine the extent to which early onset of cannabis use by parents and their children, and intergenerational continuity in early-onset cannabis use by parents and children, differ as a function of parent age at birth of first child. A total of 795 parent-child dyads (57% male parents and 49% male children) were compiled from three intergenerational studies: Oregon Youth Study-Three Generational Study (OYS-3GS), Rochester Youth Development Study and Rochester Intergenerational Study (RYDS-RIGS), and Seattle Social Development Project-The Intergenerational Project (SSDP-TIP). Parents and children identified as non-Hispanic White (29% and 22%, respectively), Black (55% and 47%), and Hispanic (8% and 11%). Early-onset cannabis use was defined as initiation at or before age 15. Time-varying effect models were fit to examine the research questions. Among parents, earlier initiation of cannabis use was associated with an earlier entry into parenthood. Moreover, parents' later age at first birth was predictive of a lower prevalence of early-onset cannabis use among their children. Last, regarding intergenerational continuity, parental early onset of cannabis use increased the likelihood of child early-onset use, but only among older parents (i.e., later age at first birth). We provide a nuanced examination of the associations between parental and child early-onset cannabis use as a function of parents' age at first birth and describe a novel approach to incorporating parent's age at first birth into models of intergenerational continuity.

The Alerting and Orienting Systems of Attention Are Modified by Cannabis Dependence.

To evaluate whether customary consumption of cannabis or cannabis dependence impacts the alerting, orienting, and executive control systems in young adults; to find out whether it is related to tobacco or alcohol dependence and if cannabis use characteristics are associated with the attention network systems. One-hundred and fifty-four healthy adults and 102 cannabis users performed the Attention Network Test (ANT) to evaluate the alerting, orienting, and executive control systems. Cannabis use enhanced the alerting system but decreased the orienting system. Moreover, those effects seem to be associated with cannabis dependence. Out of all the cannabis-using variables, only the age of onset of cannabis use significantly predicted the efficiency of the orienting and executive control systems. Cannabis dependence favors tonic alertness but reduces selective attention ability; earlier use of cannabis worsens the efficiency of selective attention and resolution of conflicts.

Developing a theoretical framework for persistent cannabis use among young adults with first episode psychosis.

Cannabis use is common among individuals with first episode psychosis (FEP) and persistent use is associated with worse outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative study is to identify factors pertaining to onset of cannabis use and persistent use among young adults with early psychosis receiving coordinated specialty care (CSC) in the United States and begin to develop a theoretical framework to drive further study and hypothesis testing and inform the approach to treatment of cannabis use disorder in this setting. Participants were ages 16-30 years with early psychosis attending a CSC program in New York State. Interviews were conducted in December 2018. Coding and analysis was conducted in Atlas.ti and themes were identified via a thematic analysis approach. Thirteen individuals completed the interview. The mean age in years was 20.7 and the majority were male (n=10). Almost half (46%) were Black, non-Hispanic and 39% were Hispanic. Seven participants indicated they were currently using cannabis and six participants indicated they had stopped for at least 6months at the time of the interview. Several themes emerged including the influence of family and social norms, motivating factors for persistent use and for reduced use or abstinence, and ambivalence regarding the impact of cannabis use on mental health. A theoretical framework emerged which may help identify future research in this area and inform the approach to treatment of cannabis use disorder in this setting.

The association between cannabis use and outcome in pharmacological treatment for opioid use disorder

BackgroundWith the ongoing opioid crisis and policy changes regarding legalization of cannabis occurring around the world, it is necessary to consider cannabis use in the context of opioid use disorder (OUD) and its treatment. We aimed to examine (1) past-month cannabis use in patients with OUD, (2) self-reported cannabis-related side effects and craving, and (3) the association between specific characteristics of cannabis use and opioid use during treatment in cannabis users.MethodsParticipants receiving pharmacological treatment for OUD (n = 2315) were recruited from community-based addiction treatment clinics in Ontario, Canada, and provided information on past-month cannabis use (self-report). Participants were followed for 3 months with routine urine drug screens in order to assess opioid use during treatment. We used logistic regression analysis to explore (1) the association between any cannabis use and opioid use during treatment, and (2) amongst cannabis-users, specific cannabis use characteristics associated with opioid use. Qualitative methods were used to examine responses to the question: “What effect does marijuana have on your treatment?”.ResultsPast-month cannabis use was reported by 51% of participants (n = 1178). Any cannabis use compared to non-use was not associated with opioid use (OR = 1.03, 95% CI 0.87–1.23, p = 0.703). Amongst cannabis users, nearly 70% reported daily use, and half reported experiencing cannabis-related side effects, with the most common side effects being slower thought process (26.2%) and lack of motivation (17.3%). For cannabis users, daily cannabis use was associated with lower odds of opioid use, when compared with occasional use (OR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.47–0.79, p < 0.001) as was older age of onset of cannabis use (OR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.94, 0.99, p = 0.032), and reporting cannabis-related side effects (OR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.51, 0.85, p = 0.001). Altogether, 75% of cannabis users perceived no impact of cannabis on their OUD treatment.ConclusionPast-month cannabis use was not associated with more or less opioid use during treatment. For patients who use cannabis, we identified specific characteristics of cannabis use associated with differential outcomes. Further examination of characteristics and patterns of cannabis use is warranted and may inform more tailored assessments and treatment recommendations.

Intergenerational associations in onset of cannabis use during adolescence: A data synthesis approach.

The present study examined associations between parents' and their children's ages of onset of cannabis use using a data synthesis methodology to pool data from 3 similarly designed intergenerational studies. Regarding age of first use of cannabis, prospective data were collected at one or more assessments from early to late adolescence in each generation. The extent to which parent and offspring gender separately or jointly moderated intergenerational effects was examined. Data were harmonized from studies originating in the states of Washington (Bailey, Hill, Epstein, Steeger, & Hawkins, 2018), New York (Thornberry, Henry, Krohn, Lizotte, & Nadel, 2018), and Oregon (Capaldi, Kerr, & Tiberio, 2018) when the parents were in late childhood to early adolescence; analyses concerned 1,081 parents and their children from 971 unique families. Parents' and their children's age of cannabis use onset during adolescence were modeled using discrete-time survival analysis techniques. Although data were successfully synthesized across the studies, the primary hypothesis was not supported: parents' earlier age of first cannabis use during adolescence was not significantly associated with earlier onset of cannabis use in the offspring generation. Rather, parents' histories of any cannabis use in adolescence-regardless of timing-were linked with increased risk for early onset cannabis use by their children compared to parents with no history of use during adolescence. There were no significant parent, child, or parent-by-child gender moderation effects. Thus, prevention of adolescent onset of cannabis in one generation may have prevention benefits for the next. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Development and Validation of a Prediction Model of Prescription Tranquilizer Misuse Based on a Nationally Representative United States Sample

BackgroundPrescription tranquilizer misuse is a risky behavior associated with fatal drug poisonings. Although various predictors have been examined, there is no published prediction model for tranquilizer misuse. This study develops and internally validates a tranquilizer misuse prediction model based primarily on drug histories of participants in a national cross-sectional survey. Predictors also include psychiatric, behavioral and demographic variables. MethodsWe analyzed data from 471,097 individuals aged 14-to-29-years in the United States, as sampled by the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, 2004-2018, an annual cross-sectional survey. We encoded 21 predictors with known or likely onset prior to tranquilizer misuse initiation, (e.g., early onset of cannabis use). With this dataset, we trained a neural network and regularized logistic regression model. While the assessment for tranquilizer misuse changed slightly in 2015, by pooling all years of survey data, predictions are robust to this source of variation. Results1.44% of the pooled sample, 2004-2018, recently initiated tranquilizer misuse (unweighted estimate). On held-out test data (n = 43,714), logistic regression and the neural network performed equally well, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of ∼0.83 on the primary model, containing 12 variables known to occur before tranquilizer misuse. ConclusionBuilt for case prediction rather than case detection, this model restricted predictors to those with known timing prior to initiation of tranquilizer misuse. Yet its performance supersedes commonly accepted criteria for clinical prediction models (AUC > 0.80). Future work should incorporate survey analysis weights into the prediction model to minimize possible bias.

Early onset of cannabis use and alcohol intoxication predicts prescription drug misuse in American Indian and non-American Indian adolescents living on or near reservations

ABSTRACT Background Prescription drug misuse (PDM) is a growing issue within the American Indian (AI) population, especially in younger populations. Objectives This study estimates relationships between PDM and early initiation (prior to 14 yrs) of cannabis use and alcohol intoxication for a national sample of AI and non-AI adolescents attending schools on or near reservations. Method Participants were 2580 students (50.2% female; 58.1% AI), ages 15–18, attending schools located on or near an AI reservation. Four models of PDM were estimated: 1) demographic variables; 2) demographics plus cannabis use initiation status; 3) demographics plus alcohol intoxication initiation status; and 4) all variables. All analyses were conducted using multilevel modeling. Results Results indicated that early onset of cannabis use and alcohol intoxication were individually significant predictors of PDM for AI and non-AI adolescents, with odds ratios (OR) of 47.00 for cannabis (p <.01) and 35.73 (p <.01) for intoxication and with no significant differences by race (AI vs. non-AI). Results also indicated a greater likelihood of PDM when a student was an early initiator of both cannabis use and intoxication than when they were one or the other. Finally, there was a significantly greater association between cannabis use and PDM (ORearlycannabis = 24.95, p <.01) than between intoxication and PDM (ORearlyintoxication = 3.98, p <.01) when both predictors were in the model. Conclusions These findings suggest that for AI and non-AI youth who have some shared living experience, early initiation of cannabis use and alcohol intoxication are risk factors that are similarly related to PDM and that targeting early initiation for both groups of adolescents is critical in prevention of PDM.

Risk factors for risky cannabis use : Aretrospective cohort study of 7671 cannabis users

Cannabis use is widespread in Germany. So far little is known about which factors are predictive for the development of risky cannabis use. Aretrospective cohort study was conducted. Via social networks 7671 cannabis users (mean age = 21.8 years, standard deviation (SD) = 4.5years) were recruited (59.3% male). The end point of the online study was risky cannabis use, which was assumed with a cut-off >3 of the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS). Predictors were gender, age, migration status, sensation seeking, a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the age of first use and the prevalence of cannabis use in school time. In addition, characteristics of the parental home were surveyed, such as socioeconomic status, parenting style, the relationship with the parents, and mental health of the parents. Risky cannabis use was reported by 29.7% of the sample. The following risk factors predicted risky cannabis use: male gender (adjusted risk ratio, ARR: 1.25), higher age (ARR: 1.01), migration status (ARR: 1.13), higher sensation seeking (ARR: 1.08), earlier onset of cannabis use (ARR: 0.94), more frequent cannabis use among peers during school time (ARR: 1.21), unstable relationship with parents (ARR: 0.97), and lower parental mental health (father: ARR: 0.98; mother: ARR: 0.96). No associations could be found for a diagnosis of ADHD, parental socioeconomic status and parenting style. Potentially influenceable risk factors for risky cannabis use are relationship quality in the parental home and early onset of cannabis use.

Association of High-Potency Cannabis Use With Mental Health and Substance Use in Adolescence

Cannabis use is consistently linked to poorer mental health outcomes, and there is evidence that use of higher-potency cannabis increases these risks. To date, no studies have described the association between cannabis potency and concurrent mental health in a general population sample or addressed confounding using longitudinal data. To explore the association between cannabis potency and substance use and mental health outcomes, accounting for preceding mental health and frequency of cannabis use. This cohort study used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a UK birth cohort of participants born between April 1, 1991, and December 31, 1992. Present data on outcomes and exposures were collected between June 2015 and October 2017 from 1087 participants at 24 years of age who reported recent cannabis use. Self-reported type of cannabis most commonly used in the past year, coded to a binary exposure of use of high-potency cannabis or lower-potency cannabis. Outcomes were reported frequency of cannabis use, reported cannabis use problems, recent use of other illicit drugs, tobacco dependence, alcohol use disorder, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and psychotic-like experiences. The study used secondary data; consequently, the hypotheses were formulated after data collection. Past-year cannabis use was reported by 1087 participants (580 women; mean [SD] age at onset of cannabis use, 16.7 [3.0] years). Of these, 141 participants (13.0%) reported the use of high-potency cannabis. Use of high-potency cannabis was associated with increased frequency of cannabis use (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 4.38; 95% CI, 2.89-6.63), cannabis problems (AOR, 4.08; 95% CI, 1.41-11.81), and increased likelihood of anxiety disorder (AOR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.11-3.32). Adjustment for frequency of cannabis use attenuated the association with psychotic experiences (AOR 1.29; 95% CI, 0.67-2.50), tobacco dependence (AOR, 1.42; 95% CI, 0.89-2.27), and other illicit drug use (AOR, 1.29; 95% CI, 0.77-2.17). There was no evidence of association between the use of high-potency cannabis and alcohol use disorder or depression. To our knowledge, this study provides the first general population evidence suggesting that the use of high-potency cannabis is associated with mental health and addiction. Limiting the availability of high-potency cannabis may be associated with a reduction in the number of individuals who develop cannabis use disorders, the prevention of cannabis use from escalating to a regular behavior, and a reduction in the risk of mental health disorders.

A Comprehensive Examination of the Links between Cannabis Use and Motivation

Background: Cannabis use is widely perceived to produce an “amotivational syndrome” characterized by reduced desire to work or compete, passivity, and lower achievement orientation. The notion that cannabis diminishes motivation has been perpetuated in popular culture, despite the equivocal results of past research. Moreover, previous literature has largely failed to consider the potentially confounding influences of depression, other substance use, and personality, despite known relationships between these variables and cannabis use.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the nature of the relationships between specific aspects of motivation and cannabis use/misuse. Moreover, we sought to determine whether depression, alcohol and other substance use, and/or personality could account for these relationships.Method: A total of 1,168 participants completed a survey comprising self-report measures of motivation (self-efficacy, apathy, goal orientation, reward-sensitivity, and behavioral inhibition/approach systems) and cannabis use/misuse (cannabis use status, cannabis use frequency, quantity, age of onset of cannabis use, symptoms of cannabis use disorder, problematic cannabis use).Results: The results revealed small (r < .30) but significant correlations between various aspects of cannabis use and motivation, which were largely accounted for by cannabis-related differences in depression, alcohol and other substance use, and personality. However, relationships between cannabis misuse and apathy remained statistically significant after controlling for confounds, indicating that individuals who misuse cannabis may demonstrate higher levels of apathy specifically.Conclusion: Collectively, these results suggest that differences in depression, substance use, and personality between cannabis users and non-users largely explain differences in motivation between these groups.

Supplemental Material for Intergenerational Associations in Onset of Cannabis Use During Adolescence: A Data Synthesis Approach

Supplemental Material for Intergenerational Associations in Onset of Cannabis Use During Adolescence: A Data Synthesis Approach

Early onset of cannabis use and violent behavior in psychosis

Although evidence from psychosis patients demonstrates the adverse effects of cannabis use (CU) at a young age and that the rate of CU is high in subgroups of young violent patients with psychotic disorders, little is known about the possible effect of the age of onset of CU on later violent behaviors (VB). So, we aimed to explore the impact of age at onset of CU on the risk of displaying VB in a cohort of early psychosis patients. Data were collected prospectively over a 36-month period in the context of an early psychosis cohort study. A total of 265 patients, aged 18-35years, were included in the study. Logistic regression was performed to assess the link between age of onset of substance use and VB. Among the 265 patients, 72 had displayed VB and 193 had not. While violent patients began using cannabis on average at age 15.29 (0.45), nonviolent patients had started on average at age 16.97 (0.35) (p=0.004). Early-onset CU (up to age 15) was a risk factor for VB (odds ratio=4.47, confidence interval [CI]: 1.13-20.06) when the model was adjusted for age group, other types of substance use, being a user or a nonuser and various violence risk factors and covariates. History of violence and early CU (until 15) were the two main risk factors for VB. Our results suggest that early-onset CU may play a role in the emergence of VB in early psychosis.

Cannabis and the developing brain: What does the evidence say?

Cannabis use during adolescence has been linked to deleterious effects on brain integrity. This article summarizes findings from two prospective investigations (3 and 6 years, on average) on adolescent cannabis use from our laboratory that utilize structural neuroimaging and neurocognitive assessment approaches. Across most studies, findings suggest recency, frequency, and age of onset of cannabis use are likely key variables in predicting poorer neural health outcomes. There is some evidence that preexisting differences in brain architecture may also contribute to vulnerability and outcome differences. Ongoing large-scale prospective studies of youth will be able to disentangle how both cannabis use as well as pre and postexposure differences play a role in divergent outcomes among youth who use cannabis.

Insomnia symptoms, cannabis protective behavioral strategies, and hazardous cannabis use among U.S. college students.

Previous research has reported that sleep problems longitudinally predict both onset of cannabis use and cannabis-related problems. However, the mediators of this relationship remain unclear. The present study examined (a) the concurrent relationship between insomnia symptoms and hazardous cannabis use and (b) examined whether use of protective behavioral strategies (PBS) for cannabis mediated this relationship among college student cannabis users. Participants were 984 (69.9% female) college students who reported consuming cannabis at least once in the past month and completed measures of insomnia, cannabis PBS, and cannabis misuse. Data were analyzed by structural equation modeling for binary and count outcomes. The significance of the mediator was evaluated using bias-corrected bootstrap confidence intervals. Insomnia symptoms were associated with an increase in the odds of hazardous cannabis use and possible cannabis use disorder. Cannabis PBS significantly mediated the relationship between insomnia symptoms and hazardous cannabis use, cannabis use disorder symptoms, and cannabis-related problems. Specifically, higher reports of insomnia symptoms were associated with lower use of cannabis PBS; which in turn was associated with an increase in the odds of hazardous cannabis use and possible cannabis use disorder, as well as a higher report of cannabis-related problems. Implications of these findings on the prevention of cannabis use problems among college students in the United States were discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Cortical surface morphology in long-term cannabis users: A multi-site MRI study

Cannabis exerts its psychoactive effect through cannabinoid receptors that are widely distributed across the cortical surface of the human brain. It is suggested that cannabis use may contribute to structural alterations across the cortical surface. In a large, multisite dataset of 120 controls and 141 cannabis users, we examined whether differences in key characteristics of the cortical surface – including cortical thickness, surface area, and gyrification index were related to cannabis use characteristics, including (i) cannabis use vs. non-use, (ii) cannabis dependence vs. non-dependence vs. non-use, and (iii) early adolescent vs. late adolescent onset of cannabis use vs. non-use. Our results revealed that cortical morphology was not associated with cannabis use, dependence, or onset age. The lack of effect of regular cannabis use, including problematic use, on cortical structure in our study is contrary to previous evidence of cortical morphological alterations (particularly in relation to cannabis dependence and cannabis onset age) in cannabis users. Careful reevaluation of the evidence on cannabis-related harm will be necessary to address concerns surrounding the long-term effects of cannabis use and inform policies in a changing cannabis regulation climate.