Problematic Cannabis Use Research Articles

Do schizotypy features predict cannabis problems in partnered community adults?

Schizotypy and its associated features—negative schizotypy, disorganization, and positive schizotypy—are correlated with increased cannabis use. Yet, it is unclear whether cannabis users with schizotypy are at greater risk of developing cannabis problems. Individuals with elevated schizotypy may be particularly vulnerable to cannabis problems. It is important to understand this association given the unknown harms of chronic cannabis use. Data for these analyses were drawn from a larger investigation of cannabis use in adult romantic relationships. Participants were community adults (N = 366; M Age = 24.6, SD = 3.1) who reported regular use of cannabis. Participants completed baseline surveys measuring cannabis use frequency, problems, and schizotypy. Follow-up assessments of cannabis problems and frequency were completed 4-, 7- and 10-months post-baseline. Multiple regression was used to test the effect of schizotypy—measured using the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief (SPQ-B, Raine & Benishay, 1995)—on cannabis use problems controlling for 30-day cannabis use. At baseline, disorganization and positive schizotypy were associated with cannabis use, primarily for women. Results revealed that with cannabis use frequency in the model, the Disorganization subscale of the SPQ-B predicted cannabis problems at baseline and all 3 follow-up assessments. Results are consistent with research suggesting that those exhibiting odd behaviors report more problematic cannabis use. Future research may further this line of inquiry with a focus on longitudinal, reciprocal relationships among schizotypy features, cannabis use, and cannabis problems.

Craving management: Exploring factors that influence momentary craving-related risk of cannabis use among young adults

Young adult frequent cannabis use has increased in prevalence and some frequent users have problems reducing their use. A strong link between momentary craving and subsequent use behaviors among individuals with problematic cannabis use has been reported in the literature, including young adults. In treatment contexts, interventions based on associative learning and reinforcement aim to reduce the prevalence of problematic substance use by altering the association between craving and use by increasing craving management skills such as mindfulness and reducing unhelpful responding such as avoidance or suppression. However, this model has not been tested among young adult cannabis users. The current study examined the influence of trait and state craving management strategies (mindfulness, coping style, experiential avoidance, and craving beliefs) on the link between momentary craving and use, using ecological momentary assessment in a sample of young adults with problematic use interested in reducing their use. Results demonstrated that two craving management constructs were associated with use: non-reactivity (p = 0.02) and non-judgment (p < 0.01). Interactions with momentary craving were observed for two constructs: non-judgmentalness (p = 0.02) and craving beliefs (p < 0.01). Findings suggest that treatments that increase non-reactivity and non-judgmentalness may reduce the occurrence of cannabis use for young adults contemplating reduction during an important period of biopsychosocial development by mitigating the impact of craving or directly reducing use. Additionally, negative beliefs about craving may serve a protective function during acute periods of elevation in momentary craving, an unexpected finding deserving further investigation.

Interest in online supports and brief self-help interventions among cannabis using Canadian university students

Only a fraction of problematic cannabis users ever seek treatment from specialty addiction services. This gap could be reduced via online brief interventions and self-help resources; however, it is not clear whether cannabis users would be interested in accessing those tools. We examined whether cannabis use, motives for using cannabis, and protective behavioral strategies predicted hypothetical interest in accessing online self-help resources. We hypothesized that greater interest in accessing self-help materials would be predicted by (1) problematic cannabis use, (2) using cannabis to cope with negative affect, and (3) fewer cannabis-related protective behaviors. These predictions were tested in a secondary analyses of data from 649 cannabis-using Canadian university students (42.5% male; M age = 22.5) participating in a population survey. Data were analyzed using set wise hierarchical multiple linear regression models to predict hypothetical interest in online self-help resources, from cannabis use, motives, and protective behaviors. Problematic cannabis users reported more interest in hypothetically accessing online supports than non-problematic users. Problematic cannabis use, coping, and expansion motives, and protective behaviors were positively associated with hypothetical interest in accessing online resources. Findings suggest that online self-help interventions might be an effective public health approach to reduce cannabis use among Canadian university students.

The prediction of resilience to alcohol consumption in youths: insular and subcallosal cingulate myeloarchitecture.

The prediction of alcohol consumption in youths and particularly biomarkers of resilience, is critical for early intervention to reduce the risk of subsequent harmful alcohol use. At baseline, the longitudinal relaxation rate (R1), indexing grey matter myelination (i.e. myeloarchitecture), was assessed in 86 adolescents/young adults (mean age = 21.76, range: 15.75-26.67 years). The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) was assessed at baseline, 1- and 2-year follow-ups (12- and 24-months post-baseline). We used a whole brain data-driven approach controlled for age, gender, impulsivity and other substance and behavioural addiction measures, such as problematic cannabis use, drug use-related problems, internet gaming, pornography use, binge eating, and levels of externalization, to predict the change in AUDIT scores from R1. Greater baseline bilateral anterior insular and subcallosal cingulate R1 (cluster-corrected family-wise error p < 0.05) predict a lower risk for harmful alcohol use (measured as a reduction in AUDIT scores) at 2-year follow-up. Control analyses show that other grey matter measures (local volume or fractional anisotropy) did not reveal such an association. An atlas-based machine learning approach further confirms the findings. The insula is critically involved in predictive coding of autonomic function relevant to subjective alcohol cue/craving states and risky decision-making processes. The subcallosal cingulate is an essential node underlying emotion regulation and involved in negative emotionality addiction theories. Our findings highlight insular and cingulate myeloarchitecture as a potential protective biomarker that predicts resilience to alcohol misuse in youths, providing novel identifiers for early intervention.

Replicating the Dimensional Structure of Cannabis Problems: A Taxometric Analysis

Objective: This study employed taxometric procedures to replicate a previous report of the dimensional structure of problems related to cannabis consumption. Method: Over 4,000 cannabis users completed an assessment of psychological, social, occupational, and physical harms (the Marijuana Problems Scale). Three taxometric procedures (MAMBAC, MAXEIG, and L-Mode) compared the current data to simulations with a base rate of problematic cannabis use derived from representative, large-scale data estimates. Results: All three procedures confirmed the continuous, dimensional nature of these cannabis problems and suggested no underlying taxon or category. Conclusions: Psychopathological disorders, including some substance use problems, have fit categorical models suggesting that they differ in kind (rather than intensity) from the behavior of the rest of the population. Cannabis problems, however, appeared to lie along a continuum with other forms of use. Given heightened awareness for the necessity of replication and a changing legal landscape for cannabis, a second look at the dimensionality of these problems seemed warranted. New data with a larger sample and different indices of problematic use confirmed the dimensionality of cannabis problems. This replication can inform predictions about the etiology, prevention, and treatment of cannabis use disorder. Researchers should expect cannabis problems to range along a continuum without categorical distinctions. Dividing users into groups of problematic and non-problematic users likely sacrifices meaningful variance. Harm reduction strategies likely can benefit all users rather than a targeted taxon with troubles. In addition, interventions will likely progress by small, incremental steps rather than dramatic, categorical jumps in progress.

Addiction as a Coping Response: Hyperkatifeia, Deaths of Despair, and COVID-19.

Addiction as a Coping Response: Hyperkatifeia, Deaths of Despair, and COVID-19.

Rasgos de la personalidad asociados al consumo de sustancias en jóvenes en contexto de vulnerabilidad

ObjectiveTo analyze the patterns of alcohol and cannabis consumption, and their associated factors, in young people aged 16 and 21 in a context of vulnerability. MethodCross-sectional study based on a pre-test questionnaire from an evaluation study, administered to a convenience sample of 365 young people from Social Guarantee Programs (SGP), or who attended activities of community entities from disadvantaged neighborhoods in Barcelona. Dependent variables were experimental, regular, and problematic alcohol and cannabis consumption, while independent variables were impulsivity, sensation seeking, expectations, and beliefs regarding drug use, social skills, and contextual variables. Associations were established using multivariate logistic regression models. ResultsThe prevalence of intensive alcohol consumption (24.2% for binge drinking and 33.3% for binge drinking) and experimental (51.1%) and problematic cannabis use (12.9%) was higher in SGP students than entity youth. Likewise, they presented higher scores on the impulsivity scales, sensation seeking, expectations and beliefs favorable to alcohol consumption. In general, the prevalence of experimental alcohol consumption was higher in girls than in boys. Regular binge drinking was associated with intense sensations seeking (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.06; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.01-1.12), while attending SGP was associated with problematic cannabis use (aOR: 2.73; 95%CI: 1.26-5.89). Positive expectations to alcohol and cannabis use were associated with problematic substance use. ConclusionIndividual risk, linked to the higher risk trajectories of SGP students, is associated with a higher problematic consumption of alcohol and cannabis than in young people from community entities exposed to an environmental risk of high frequency of consumption.

Parsing impulsivity in individuals with anxiety and depression who use Cannabis

BackgroundIndividuals with anxiety/depression may impulsively use cannabis to acutely induce positive affect and attenuate aversive mood states. However, few studies have attempted to parse impulsivity displayed by anxious/depressed cannabis users. This investigation examined what aspects of impulsivity characterize those individuals using self-report and functional MRI (fMRI) measures. MethodsIndividuals with any lifetime anxiety/depression diagnoses and problematic cannabis use (“Anx/Dep+CB”; n=42) were compared to a propensity score-matched group with very low cannabis use (“Anx/Dep-lowCB”; n=42), and a healthy control group (n=37). Impulsivity was measured using the UPPS-P Impulsivity Questionnaire and the Stop Signal Task (SST) during fMRI. For UPPS-P, regression models estimated group-by-impulsivity subscale interactions with post-hoc pairwise tests. For the SST, similar regression models were estimated with four a-priori regions of interest (ROIs; right opercularis, orbitalis, dorsal and ventral anterior insula) during stop-success and stop-failure processing. Null SST findings were followed up using Bayes factor analysis to quantify the evidence in support of the null hypothesis. ResultsFor the UPPS-P, a significant group-by-subscale interaction indicated that the Anx/Dep+CB group exhibited higher levels of impulsivity on the negative- and positive-urgency subscales relative to both comparison groups. Higher negative-urgency correlated with heavier lifetime cannabis use across groups. For the SST, there were no ROI task activation differences. Bayes factor analysis determined the null findings were at least three times more likely than the alternative hypothesis for all ROIs. ConclusionsImpulsivity under periods of heightened affect, but not motor response inhibitions, characterized anxious/depressed individuals who use cannabis.

Parental protective and risk factors regarding cannabis use in adolescence: A national sample from the Chilean school population

ABSTRACT Background: Research has increased our understanding of the parental factors associated with the initiation and development of cannabis use disorder in adolescents, but few studies about this have been performed in middle- or low-income countries. Objective: First, to examine whether perceived past parental drug use, parental monitoring, and attitude toward adolescent cannabis use are associated with general and problematic cannabis use in Chilean adolescents. Second, to explore whether perceived past parental drug use weakens the associations of protective factors with general and problematic adolescent cannabis use. Methods: Regression analyses were performed on cross-sectional data from a multistage probabilistic sample stratified by clusters (municipalities, school and grade) of 43,060 students (47% male, mean age 15.5 years) from grades 8 to 12, which was collected from the Chilean National School Survey on Drug Use (2013). Results: Perceived past parental drug use increased the likelihood of adolescent cannabis use in general, but not its problematic use. Parental monitoring of adolescents’ whereabouts and parental opposition to adolescent cannabis use decreased the likelihood of adolescent cannabis use in general, as well as problematic use. Perceived past parental drug use only interacted with parental monitoring of school activities. Conclusions: In line with research from the United States, the Netherlands and Spain, parental monitoring of adolescents’ whereabouts and a strong parental opposition to cannabis use appear to be protective factors, irrespective of past parental use. However, the effectiveness of monitoring adolescents’ school activities seems to decrease when parents are perceived as having used drugs in the past.

FMRI activation to cannabis odor cues is altered in individuals at risk for a cannabis use disorder.

IntroductionThe smell of cannabis is a cue with universal relevance to cannabis users. However, most cue reactivity imaging studies have solely utilized visual images, auditory imagery scripts, or tactile cues in their experiments. This study introduces a multimodal cue reactivity paradigm that includes picture, odor, and bimodal picture + odor cues.MethodsTwenty‐eight adults at risk for cannabis use disorder (CUD; defined as at least weekly use and Substance Involvement Score of ≥4 on the Cannabis sub‐test of the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test) and 26 cannabis‐naive controls were exposed to cannabis and floral cues during event‐related fMRI. Between‐group differences in fMRI activation and correlations were tested using FMRIB’s Local Analyses of Mixed Effects and corrected for multiple comparisons using a voxelwise threshold of z > 2.3 and a corrected cluster threshold of p < .05.ResultsBoth visual and olfactory modalities resulted in significant activation of craving and reward systems, with cannabis odor cues eliciting a significantly greater response in regions mediating anticipation and reward (nucleus accumbens, pallidum, putamen, and anterior insular cortex, supplementary motor area, angular gyrus and superior frontal gyrus) and cannabis picture cues eliciting a significantly greater response in the occipital cortex and amygdala. Furthermore, the CUD group showed significantly increased activation in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the insula, and the pallidum compared to controls. Within the CUD group, activation in the insula, anterior cingulate, and occipital cortex to bimodal cannabis cues was significantly correlated with self‐reported craving.ConclusionOur multimodal cue reactivity paradigm is sensitive to neural adaptations associated with problematic cannabis use.

Cannabis norm perceptions among Canadian university students

Background and hypothesesExtant research has not studied whether norm perceptions differ between young adult cannabis users who do and do not meet screening criteria for problematic cannabis use. Drawing on sociocultural norms research on alcohol, we hypothesized that users meeting screening criteria for cannabis problems would be more likely than those not meeting those criteria to (1) mistakenly believe that social reference groups use about the same amount of cannabis as they do, (2) adjust private approval of peer cannabis use to match mistaken public approval norms, and (3) believe that behavioral and social consequences are less definitive of problematic cannabis use. MethodsSecondary analyses of data from 753 cannabis users recruited from a Canadian university population survey (57% female; M age = 22.58). Parametric and non-parametric ANOVAs examined respondents’ perceptions and beliefs regarding the cannabis use of same-sex friends, students, and adults living in the same Canadian province. ResultsContrary to prediction, problematic cannabis users were more likely than non-problematic users to (accurately) believe that social reference groups use cannabis less frequently than themselves. As hypothesized, problematic users were more likely than non-problematic users to adjust private approval of fellow students’ cannabis use to match perceived public approval, and to believe that sociobehavioral criteria are less definitive of cannabis problems. ConclusionResults support the need to develop brief interventions to correct misperceptions of (a) injunctive cannabis norms and (b) sociobehavioral criteria that define safe versus problematic use, rather than perceived frequency of use in social reference groups.

Predictors and Effects of Cannabis-Related Legal Investigations

In 2018, 218,660 cases of cannabis-related legal investigations were registered by the German police. In the present study, predictors and effects of cannabis-related legal investigations are investigated. Retrospective cohort study with 10,432 subjects between 15 and 46 years of age (M=22.2 years, SD=4.8) of which 54.6% were male. The sample recruitment took place in 2018 over social media. The online questionnaire included potential predictors and as outcome measures mental health, social status, unemployment, income, and problematic cannabis and alcohol use. A total of 9,246 subjects (88.6%) had consumed cannabis in their lifetime. A cannabis-related legal investigation had been initiated against 1,736 subjects (18.8%). These individuals were more likely to be male, older, less likely to achieve A-levels, scored higher on sensation seeking, were more likely to report ADHD, started cannabis use earlier, and had higher levels of all cannabis use variables. No significant associations were found between cannabis-related legal investigations and the level of income, unemployment, mental health or subjective social status. Of the never or former consumers, 63.4 and 44.8%, respectively, reported that fear to get into trouble with the law was a reason for non-use. There was no evidence that cannabis-related legal investigations had any impact on the current life or health situation. Fears of getting into trouble with the law were particularly relevant for people who had never used, or were currently not using cannabis.

Attenuated reward activations associated with cannabis use in anxious/depressed individuals

Individuals with mood/anxiety disorders may use cannabis for “self-medication,” i.e., to induce positive mood or attenuate aversive mood states. However, little neurobiological evidence supports such use. The goal of this investigation was to test the hypothesis that cannabis use attenuates striatal response to reward in those with mood/anxiety disorders. Reward-related processing was measured using a monetary incentive delay task under functional MRI. Individuals with any lifetime mood/anxiety disorder diagnoses and problematic cannabis use (“Mood/Anxiety+CB”; n = 41) were compared with a propensity score-matched group of similar subjects without cannabis use (“Mood/Anxiety−CB”; n = 41), and a cannabis-naïve healthy control group (n = 35). Activations during win- and loss-anticipations were extracted from bilateral nucleus accumbens, dorsal caudate, and dorsolateral putamen. Mixed models were estimated for each region separately for win- and loss-anticipations, with a test for the main effect of group, condition (e.g., high-win, low-win, neutral), and their interaction. A significant main effect of group for win- and loss-anticipation was observed for each striatal region. Specifically, the Mood/Anxiety+CB group exhibited the lowest striatal activations across condition levels relative to both the Mood/Anxiety-CB and healthy group. A significant group-by-condition interaction was only observed for the dorsolateral putamen and indicated divergent activation modulation as a function of win and loss-magnitude for Mood/Anxiety+CB subjects. Finally, individuals with heavier recent cannabis use showed greater attenuation of gain-related activation in all three striatal regions. There was no such relationship for other illicit drugs. These data support the hypothesis that cannabis use in individuals with mood/anxiety disorders is associated with attenuated brain processing of reward magnitude, which may contribute to persistent affective symptoms.

Overlapping patterns of recreational and medical cannabis use in a large community sample of cannabis users

BackgroundRegulatory changes are increasing access to both medical cannabis and cannabis in general. As such, understanding patterns of recreational and medical cannabis use is a high public health priority. ObjectivesPatterns of cannabis use (recreational and medical), other substance use, and psychiatric symptoms were characterized in a large sample of community adult cannabis users in Canada, prior to federal cannabis legalization. MethodsThis was a self-report assessment of 709 cannabis users (Mean age = 30.19 (11.82) years; 55.01% female). Patterns of overall substance use and psychiatric symptomatology were compared based on recreational/medical cannabis status. ResultsOverall, 61.4% of participants endorsed exclusively recreational use, while 38.6% reported some level of medical use. Of all medical users, only 23.4% reported authorization from a health professional. Recreational cannabis users typically reported infrequent use (less than weekly), whereas medical users modally reported daily use. Compared to recreational users, medical users reported more problematic cannabis use in addition to greater psychiatric symptomatology (anxiety, depression and trauma). Interestingly, a large majority of medical users also reported using recreationally (80.6%), while exclusive medical use was less common (19.3%). This dual motives group reported more daily cannabis use and more alcohol and tobacco use. Compared to medical-only users, individuals using cannabis for both medical and recreational purposes more often used cannabis to treat psychiatric conditions. ConclusionsThese findings reveal the differences in cannabis use patterns and preferences between recreational and medical users, and even within medical users. In particular, dual motives individuals, who use cannabis for both positively and negatively reinforcing purposes, may warrant special attention as a subpopulation.

Prescription Pain Reliever Use and Misuse among Cannabis Users Aged 50+ Years

ABSTRACT Objectives: To examine rates and correlates of dual cannabis and prescription pain reliever (PPNR) use and misuse among U.S. individuals aged 50+ who reported past-year cannabis use. Methods: Using the 2015–2018 National Survey of Drug Use and Health, we examined cannabis nonuse/use and PPNR nonuse/use/misuse among all 35,229 respondents, and then focused on 2,632 past-year cannabis users to examine the risk of PPNR use but no misuse and the risk of PPNR misuse, compared to PPNR nonuse. Results: More than one-half of older cannabis users used PPNR in the past year. Multinomial logistic regression results show that the risks of PPNR use/no misuse and PPNR misuse were higher among those who had more chronic medical conditions and a major depressive episode. The risk of PPNR use/no misuse was also associated with high frequency and medical cannabis use. The risk of PPNR misuse was also associated with younger cannabis initiation age and cannabis and other illicit drug use disorders. Conclusions: Correlates of dual cannabis and PPNR use/misuse among older adults are poor physical and mental health problems and problematic cannabis use. Clinical Implications: Older adults with cannabis and PPNR misuse need access to evidence-based treatment, including medication-assisted treatment when needed.

Impaired motor cortical plasticity associated with cannabis use disorder in young adults.

Maladaptive cortical plasticity has been described in individuals with heroin and methamphetamine addiction and may mediate other substance abuse disorders. It is unknown whether cannabis dependence in humans alters the capacity for induction of cortical plasticity. The aim of this study was to non-invasively investigate cortical plasticity with transcranial magnetic stimulation in young adults who meet DSM-5 criteria for cannabis use disorder (CUD). Thirty men (ages 20- 30) who used cannabis daily over the previous 6 months (15 diagnosed of CUD) and 15 demographically matched non-users were enrolled in this study. All participants underwent two sessions of theta burst stimulation (TBS) in which either continuous TBS (cTBS; 600 pulses, 80% active motor threshold) or intermittent TBS (iTBS; 2-s train of cTBS repeated every 10 s for a total of 190 s, 600 pulses) was applied over the primary motor cortex. The effects of these protocols were assessed by analysing the contralateral motor evoked potentials (MEPs). The relationships between cortical plasticity and problematic cannabis use, degree of dependence, and nicotine addiction were also investigated. Significant MEP inhibition after cTBS was observed in both cannabis users without CUD and non-users, while this inhibition was not seen in cannabis users with CUD. Strikingly, less motor cortical plasticity was observed in subjects with severe problematic cannabis use. No significant differences between users and non-users were found in the iTBS-induced cortical plasticity measures. Our study provides the first evidence of maladaptive cortical plasticity associated with cannabis use disorder and problematic cannabis use in humans.

Coping Strategies and Factors Related to Problematic Substance Use and Behavioral Addictions Among Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore and identify the factors associated with problematic substance use (alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis) and behavioral addictions (internet and eating disorders) over time in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) treated for cancer. Methods: AYAs newly diagnosed with cancer, 15-25 years of age, completed a questionnaire during their hospitalization (T1), assessing their consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis (The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test; The Smoking Behavior Questionnaire; and The Cannabis Abuse Screening Test), their internet use (The Internet Addiction Test), their body preoccupations (The Eating Attitudes Test), as well as their coping strategies (Brief COPE) and emotional adjustment (The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Questionnaires were completed again 6 months later (T2). Results: Seventy-three AYAs were included at T1 and 21 AYAs at T2. Nearly one out of two (46.58%) AYAs had a problematic substance use or behavioral addiction after cancer diagnosis (T1). Problematic use of internet was frequently reported (23.29%), as well as harmful alcohol consumption or addiction (16.44%) and cannabis dependence (12.33%). The main factor related to problematic substance use was being older, while the main factor related to behavioral addiction was having a higher anxiety score. Substance use as a coping strategy was used more frequently by AYAs with problematic substance use and emotional support as a coping strategy was used more frequently by AYAs with a behavioral addiction. Conclusions: High rates of problematic substance use and behavioral addiction were reported in our sample. AYAs surveyed had high problematic use of cannabis and high internet use. Attention to substance use and addictive behaviors is recommended to ensure optimal care.

Craving is impermanent and it matters: Investigating craving and cannabis use among young adults with problematic use interested in reducing use

Rates of problematic cannabis use have nearly doubled over the last decade, and peak onset for cannabis use disorders occurs during young adulthood. Craving for cannabis is hypothesized to be an important factor that maintains cannabis use among people who desire to stop or reduce their use, including many young adults. Previous studies that used single timepoint assessment methods to demonstrate a link between craving and cannabis use have found mixed predictive utility of measurements. The impermanent, or time-varying nature of craving may be responsible for mixed findings, leading to inaccuracies in retrospective recall and greater difficulty measuring craving and detecting its association with cannabis use. The current study compared intensive longitudinal assessments and single timepoint assessments predicting cannabis use among young adults with problematic cannabis use who reported a desire to reduce their use. Participants (N = 80) completed a baseline craving questionnaire and intensive longitudinal assessments of momentary craving and cannabis use up to four times per day for 14 days. Results suggested that averaged momentary craving predicted cannabis use above-and-beyond craving measured at baseline. An increase of one SD above the sample-mean for averaged momentary craving increased the probability of cannabis use by 367 %, while a one SD increase in baseline craving was only associated with a 49 % increase. Findings suggest that asking young adults who want to cut back on their cannabis use about their craving at a single timepoint may not be as clinically useful as tracking cravings repeatedly in near real-time and in ecologically valid contexts.

Increased Resting State Triple Network Functional Connectivity in Undergraduate Problematic Cannabis Users: A Preliminary EEG Coherence Study.

An increasing body of experimental data have suggested that aberrant functional interactions between large-scale networks may be the most plausible explanation of psychopathology across multiple mental disorders, including substance-related and addictive disorders. In the current research, we have investigated the association between problematic cannabis use (PCU) and triple-network electroencephalographic (EEG) functional connectivity. Twelve participants with PCU and 24 non-PCU participants were included in the study. EEG recordings were performed during resting state (RS). The exact Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography software (eLORETA) was used for all EEG analyses. Compared to non-PCU, PCU participants showed an increased delta connectivity between the salience network (SN) and central executive network (CEN), specifically, between the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and right posterior parietal cortex. The strength of delta connectivity between the SN and CEN was positively and significantly correlated with higher problematic patterns of cannabis use after controlling for age, sex, educational level, tobacco use, problematic alcohol use, and general psychopathology (rp = 0.40, p = 0.030). Taken together, our results show that individuals with PCU could be characterized by a specific dysfunctional interaction between the SN and CEN during RS, which might reflect the neurophysiological underpinnings of attentional and emotional processes of cannabis-related thoughts, memories, and craving.

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.