Recent Cannabis Users Research Articles

Cultivating Choice: Determinants of Home Cannabis Growing Among Legal Users in the United States

As cannabis legalization evolves in the United States, policies regarding home cultivation vary significantly across states. This study examines factors influencing the decision to grow cannabis at home by cannabis‐consuming residents in legal states. Using data from a large online survey (n = 4,823) of recent cannabis users in cannabis‐legal states, we explore four potential explanations for home cultivation: legal access, needs‐based motivations, resource‐based factors, and identity‐based reasons. Our analysis reveals that home growers differ significantly from non‐growers across multiple dimensions. The stance of state policies on home cultivation plays a role in determining who will grow their own. Notably, a strong sense of cannabis identity is the most powerful predictor for home cultivation. While some aspects of needs‐based and resource‐based motivations play a role, multivariate analyses demonstrate that the most compelling explanation includes a mix of variables, demonstrating the complexity of cannabis consumption and choices to cultivate.

Do anxiety symptoms and coping motives serially mediate the association between psychotic-like experiences and cannabis-related problems in undergraduate recent cannabis users?

Many Canadian emerging adults (ages 18–25 years) use cannabis, with 60 % of past-three-month users experiencing one or more cannabis-related problems (i.e., adverse consequences of use). While psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) and cannabis problems overlap, little is known about the mechanisms explaining this link. One hypothesis is that PLEs are distressing and give rise to anxiety, with which emerging adults attempt to cope through increased cannabis use, in turn increasing their risk for cannabis-related problems. We tested a chained-mediational model to determine if anxiety and coping-with-anxiety motives for cannabis use sequentially mediated the link between PLEs and cannabis problems in emerging adult undergraduates; a conditional process model tested for moderation by sex. Emerging adult cannabis users (N = 413; mean [SD] age = 19.1 [1.5] years; 71.9 % female) from five Canadian universities provided cross-sectional, self-report survey data in fall 2021. Validated measures of PLEs, anxiety, cannabis coping-with-anxiety motives, and cannabis-related problems were administered. Path analyses supported the hypothesized chained mediational indirect effect (b = 0.027, 95 % bootstrap CI [0.012, 0.050]). No direct effect was found (p =.698), suggesting that the PLEs-to-cannabis problems association is fully explained by anxiety and cannabis coping-with-anxiety motives. Inconsistent with hypotheses, mediation did not depend on sex (95 % CIs crossed zero); therefore, anxiety and cannabis coping-with-anxiety motives explain the link between PLEs and cannabis problems in emerging adults regardless of their sex. Results highlight anxiety and cannabis coping-with-anxiety motives as potentially important intervention targets in cannabis-using emerging adults with PLEs, possibly preventing the development/worsening of cannabis-related problems.

Trends in public attitudes to permitting cannabis for recreational use: analysis of Irish survey data since 2002.

There has been considerable debate around the liberalization of cannabis laws in many countries. Given recent changes in cannabis policy, and the current discussion regarding cannabis legalization in Ireland, the aim of this study was to examine changes in attitudes over time towards permitting recreational cannabis use. We analyzed data from Ireland's 2002/03 (n = 4918); 2006/07 (n = 4967); 2010/11 (n = 5119); 2014/15 (n = 5937); 2019/20 (n = 3982) National Drug Prevalence Surveys. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine factors associated with being in favour of the use of cannabis for recreational purposes. The results indicate that there is minority support for permitting recreational cannabis use, which ranged from 19.1% in 2006/07 to 29.9% in 2019/20. In multivariable analysis being male and living in Dublin were significant predictors of agreeing with recreational cannabis use, as were being either a recent or past cannabis user, knowing cannabis users, perceiving cannabis use as not being a great risk, and not disapproving of cannabis use. Subjects aged less than 35 years and those who had completed primary education only were significantly less likely to agree with permitting recreational cannabis use. The results from this study indicate that there is minority support for allowing recreational cannabis use. Support was highest among recent cannabis users, consistent with previous studies. The relative lack of support for recreational cannabis use among younger respondents was surprising and warrants further research.

A86 CANNABIS USE IN PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE IS HIGHER FOLLOWING LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS IN CANADA AND IS ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER QUALITY OF LIFE

Abstract Background Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), often experience fluctuating and unpredictable symptoms. Most individuals require chronic therapy with immunomodulators or novel biologics to maintain disease remission. In addition to conventional medical therapy, many patients also seek out alternative therapies such as cannabis. Reports in the USA suggest that cannabis is used by ~12% of UC and ~16% of CD patients, despite it being legally prohibited. Purpose The aim of our study is to evaluate the use of cannabis in a cohort of patients with IBD following its legalization in Canada, and to assess its effects on IBD disease severity. Method We conducted a prospective cohort study of adult IBD patients seen in clinic at a tertiary care center in London, ON. Patients completed an online 40-question survey that collected data on demographics, IBD disease history, cannabis use, and included the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ). The survey was distributed and collected by the REDCap platform maintained by Western University. The study was approved by the Western University Ethics Committee. Result(s) Completed surveys were obtained from 254 individuals (148 individuals with CD, 90 with UC and 16 with indeterminate colitis). Over half of participants were between 35-64 years of age and female. Fifty-three percent of participants reported life-time cannabis use and 51% of users started using cannabis only in the preceding 3 years. Individuals with CD had higher rates of recent use, defined as use within the past 6 months, when compared with UC (41% vs 31%). Cannabis was taken multiple times per week by 57% of users. Cannabis was used to treat GI symptoms by 30% of users, as well as to help with sleep (26%) and for recreation (27%). Despite side effects such as dry mouth, anxiety and concentration issues, 79% of users felt the benefits of cannabis outweighed its harms. Interestingly, only 46% of cannabis users discussed their use with their family physician or gastroenterologist. Recent cannabis users did not differ in the use of IBD medication or self-reported rates of GI symptoms. Furthermore, recent users did not differ in the rates of surgical procedures for IBD (recent 35% vs non-recent 32%). Recent cannabis users did have a significantly lower quality of life as indicated by SIBDQ scores when compared to non-recent users (recent use 37 vs non-recent use 40). Conclusion(s) Cannabis use among patients with IBD after its legalization is more than double the rate previously reported in the literature. Importantly, physicians are likely to be unaware of its prevalence in their practice. Cannabis was used by patients to treat GI and non-GI symptoms, and it was associated with lower SIBDQ scores. Our results suggest that physicians should inquire about Cannabis use amongst their patients with IBD, and that further studies are required to determine its effects on disease severity. Please acknowledge all funding agencies by checking the applicable boxes below CIHR Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Recent cannabis use and myocardial infarction in young adults: a cross-sectional study.

Background:Cannabis use is increasing among young adults, but its effects on cardiovascular health are poorly understood. We aimed to assess the association between recent cannabis use and history of myocardial infarction (MI) in young adults (aged 18–44 yr).Methods:We performed a cross-sectional study using pooled data from the 2017 and 2018 cohorts of the American Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey of US adults. We analyzed the association between any recent cannabis use and history of MI using a weighted logistic regression model that adjusted for demographic factors, socioeconomic factors, health-related behaviours, concomitant substance use and other comorbidities. We also assessed this association after stratifying by frequency of use and by primary method of consumption.Results:Among 33 173 young adults (18.5 million weighted), 4610 respondents (3.2 million weighted) reported recent cannabis use (17.5%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 16.8%–18.2%). A history of MI was more frequent among recent cannabis users (n = 61 of 4610, 1.3%) relative to nonusers (n = 240 of 28 563 [0.8%], adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.07, 95% CI 1.12–3.82). A history of MI was associated with cannabis use of more than 4 times per month (adjusted OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.18–4.50), and with smoking as a primary method of consumption (adjusted OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.02–3.98).Interpretation:Our study provides evidence supporting an association between recent cannabis use and history of MI in young adults. Increasing cannabis use in an at-risk population could have negative implications for cardiovascular health.

Personal Correlates of Support for Medical and Recreational Cannabis Legalization in Australia.

Introduction and Aims: Increasingly more Australians are in favor of legalizing medical and recreational cannabis use. This paper explored the personal characteristics of those who supported each of these policies in Australia.Design: Cross-sectional national survey.Methods: This study included 21,729 participants aged 18 years and above who responded to the 2016 National Drug Strategy Household Survey. Participants were provided the assurance of confidentiality for their participations. Logistic regression models were used to examine the relationships between personal characteristics and support for the legalization of medical and recreational cannabis.Results: Overall, 77 and 40% of participants supported the legalization of medical and recreational cannabis respectively. People of older age were more likely to support medical cannabis legalization while those who supported legalization of recreational cannabis use were more likely to be younger. Medical cannabis supporters were more likely to report chronic pain (OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.00) while recreational cannabis supporters were more likely to suffer high level of psychological distress (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.14, 1.43). Experience with cannabis use was strongly associated with supportive attitudes, with recent cannabis users almost 14 times (OR = 14.13, 95% CI: 5.37, 37.20) and 34 times (OR = 33.74, 95% CI: 24.22, 47.01) more likely to support the legalization of medical and recreational cannabis use, respectively.Discussion and Conclusions: The majority of Australians approve the legalization of cannabis for medicinal purposes but most remain cautious about legalizing recreational cannabis use. The sociodemographic and clinical profile of supporters of medical and recreational legalization suggests a potential interaction of self-interests and beliefs about the harms of cannabis use.

Cannabis use and driving under the influence: Behaviors and attitudes by state-level legal sale of recreational cannabis

BackgroundAs states continue to legalize the sale of recreational cannabis, there is a need to study attitudes and behaviors regarding driving after cannabis use. The purpose of this study was to describe US adults' attitudes and behaviors regarding driving after cannabis use by state-level legal sale of recreational cannabis, and to determine whether these associations differ by frequency of cannabis use. MethodsData were collected from a national sample of 17,112 adults in the United States. Weighted adjusted prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals were used to compare the prevalence of behaviors and attitudes by state-level legal sale of recreational cannabis. Analyses were repeated among recent cannabis users, stratifying by cannabis use status. ResultsDriving after cannabis use was more prevalent in legal cannabis sales states; however, so were potentially protective attitudes related to cannabis use and driving. After stratifying by frequency of use, daily/almost daily, weekly/monthly, and past 12-month users from states with legal recreational cannabis sales had significantly lower prevalence of driving after cannabis use and higher prevalence of protective attitudes compared to those from states without legal recreational sales. Risk perceptions were lower for cannabis than alcohol. ConclusionsPublic health messaging campaigns to reduce driving and riding after cannabis use and to improve attitudes regarding driving after cannabis use are warranted across all U.S. states, regardless of legalization status.

Cannabis use, subsequent other illicit drug use and drug use disorders: A 16-year follow-up study among Swedish adults

AimsTo examine the association between cannabis use and subsequent other illicit drug use and drug use disorders (harmful use and dependence). Design, Setting, ParticipantsWe used survey data from a population-based cohort in Stockholm County (collected 1998–2000), with linkage to the National Patient Register. The study base comprised participants aged 20–64 years (N = 10 345), followed-up until 2014. Cox and logistic regression analyses were conducted to test associations between self-reported cannabis use and risk of subsequent other illicit drug use (three-year follow-up) and drug use disorders (16-year follow-up). FindingsThe odds ratio (OR) for other illicit drug use onset at three-year follow-up for lifetime cannabis users was 7.00 (4.47–10.35, 95% CI) and for recent cannabis users 34.41 (19.14–61.88, 95% CI). Adjusting for age and AUDIT score attenuated the association, for lifetime users: OR = 5.48 (3.69–8.13, 95% CI) and OR = 5.65 (3.80–8.41, 95% CI), and for recent users: OR = 18.32 (9.88–33.99, 95% CI) and OR = 20.88 (11.19–38.95, 95% CI). For cannabis users only, the hazard ratio (HR) for drug use disorders at 16-year follow-up was 0.89 (0.31–2.61, 95%CI). For cannabis and other illicit drug users, the corresponding HR was 7.27 (3.85–13.75, 95% CI). ConclusionsThere was no independent association between cannabis use and subsequent drug use disorders. The association with subsequent drug use disorders was rather explained by other illicit drug use, which cannabis users were at higher risk of at the three-year follow-up.

Is Cannabis Use Associated with Various Indices of Motivation among Adolescents?

ABSTRACTDecreased motivation is often noted as a consequence of cannabis use (CU). Previous work has yielded mixed findings, relied mostly on adult samples, and varied to the extent that it accounted for potential confounds. This study examines associations between CU and several motivation indices among adolescents. We hypothesized that regular cannabis users would report lower motivation than light users, and that greater lifetime and past 30-day CU amounts would be associated with decreased motivation. Participants were 79 adolescents, ages 14–18, classified as recent regular cannabis users (n = 36) or light users (n = 43). Frequency and amount of substance use were assessed across participants’ lifetime and during the past 30 days. Motivation was measured through the Apathy Evaluation Scale and Motivation and Engagement Scale. To examine associations between CU and our motivation indices, we conducted a series of two-step hierarchical multiple regressions. Variables found to correlate with any motivation measure were entered on step 1 (e.g., mental health, other substance use) and the relevant CU variable was entered on step 2. After controlling for confounds, no significant differences were observed between regular and light users on any motivation index, p > .01. Similarly, no associations between motivation and lifetime or past 30-day CU amount were observed, p > .01. Our findings do not support a link between reduced motivation and CU among adolescents after controlling for relevant confounds. Future studies will examine the levels of CU which influence motivation in adolescents, and the conditions under which this link becomes manifest.

Moving on From Representativeness: Testing the Utility of the Global Drug Survey.

A decline in response rates in traditional household surveys, combined with increased internet coverage and decreased research budgets, has resulted in increased attractiveness of web survey research designs based on purposive and voluntary opt-in sampling strategies. In the study of hidden or stigmatised behaviours, such as cannabis use, web survey methods are increasingly common. However, opt-in web surveys are often heavily criticised due to their lack of sampling frame and unknown representativeness. In this article, we outline the current state of the debate about the relevance of pursuing representativeness, the state of probability sampling methods, and the utility of non-probability, web survey methods especially for accessing hidden or minority populations. Our article has two aims: (1) to present a comprehensive description of the methodology we use at Global Drug Survey (GDS), an annual cross-sectional web survey and (2) to compare the age and sex distributions of cannabis users who voluntarily completed (a) a household survey or (b) a large web-based purposive survey (GDS), across three countries: Australia, the United States, and Switzerland. We find that within each set of country comparisons, the demographic distributions among recent cannabis users are broadly similar, demonstrating that the age and sex distributions of those who volunteer to be surveyed are not vastly different between these non-probability and probability methods. We conclude that opt-in web surveys of hard-to-reach populations are an efficient way of gaining in-depth understanding of stigmatised behaviours and are appropriate, as long as they are not used to estimate drug use prevalence of the general population.

Representativeness of online purposive sampling with Australian cannabis cultivators

BACKGROUND: Digital research methods have become useful tools in the study of hidden populations. Large samples are often obtained, but their external validity can be unclear. This paper compares an online purposive sample of Australian cannabis growers with a matched sub-sample accessed from a general population survey. METHODS: We compared the demographic and drug use characteristics of recent cannabis users who report recent cannabis cultivation from a probability (National Drug Strategy Household Survey, n=100) and purposive online sample (Global Cannabis Cultivation Research Consortium, n=327) using nonparametric (bootstrap) and meta-analysis techniques. RESULTS: The samples were not statistically significantly different by age, indigenous status, employment, completion of any educational qualification, living alone or with partner, daily cannabis use and recent other illicit drug use. The purposive online sample was more likely to report being male, residing in a regional/remote area and completion of a university qualification, while the probability sample was more likely to report first using cannabis under the age of 16 years and living with children. CONCLUSION: While our sample cannot be understood as representative, these findings provide greater confidence in our purposive sampling methodology that uses a wide range of internet and traditional recruitment sources. Language: en

Synthetic cannabis: A comparison of patterns of use and effect profile with natural cannabis in a large global sample

BackgroundThe last decade has seen the appearance of myriad novel psychoactive substances with diverse effect profiles. Synthetic cannabinoids are among the most recently identified but least researched of these substances. MethodsAn anonymous online survey was conducted in 2011 using a quantitative structured research tool. Missing data (median 2%) were treated by available-case analysis. ResultsOf 14,966 participants, 2513 (17%) reported use of synthetic cannabis. Of these, 980 (41% of 2417) reported its use in the last 12 months. Almost all recent synthetic cannabis users (99% of 975) reported ever use of natural cannabis. Synthetic cannabis reportedly had both a shorter duration of action (z=17.82, p<.001) and quicker time to peak onset of effect (z=−9.44, p<.001) than natural cannabis. Natural cannabis was preferred to synthetic cannabis by 93% of users, with natural cannabis rated as having greater pleasurable effects when high (t(930)=−37.1, p<.001, d=−1.22) and being more able to function after use (t(884)=−13.3, p<.001, d=−0.45). Synthetic cannabis was associated with more negative effects (t(859)=18.7, p<.001, d=0.64), hangover effects (t(854)=6.45, p<.001, d=0.22) and greater paranoia (t(889)=7.91, p<.001, d=0.27). ConclusionsUsers report a strong preference for natural over synthetic cannabis. The latter has a less desirable effect profile. Further research is required to determine longer term consequences of use and comparative dependence potential.

Are the symptoms of cannabis use disorder best accounted for by dimensional, categorical, or factor mixture models? A comparison of male and female young adults.

Despite the consensus that criteria for cannabis abuse and dependence and symptoms of withdrawal are best explained by a single latent liability, it remains unknown whether alternative models provide a better explanation of these criteria. A series of latent factor, latent class, and hybrid factor mixture models were fitted to data from 872 recent cannabis users from the Minnesota Twin Family Study who completed Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed., revised, and 4th ed.) diagnostic criteria for cannabis abuse, dependence, and symptoms of withdrawal. Despite theoretical appeal, results did not support latent class or factor mixture modeling. Instead, symptoms of abuse, dependence, and withdrawal were better summarized by a single latent factor Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) for male and female young adults. An almost 2-fold sex difference in item endorsement was best explained by a single mean difference on the CUD factor, indicating that young men have a greater latent liability toward expressing CUD.

Dose-Related Modulation of Event-Related Potentials to Novel and Target Stimuli by Intravenous Δ9-THC in Humans

Cannabinoids induce a host of perceptual alterations and cognitive deficits in humans. However, the neural correlates of these deficits have remained elusive. The current study examined the acute, dose-related effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC) on psychophysiological indices of information processing in humans. Healthy subjects (n=26) completed three test days during which they received intravenous Δ⁹-THC (placebo, 0.015 and 0.03 mg/kg) in a within-subject, double-blind, randomized, cross-over, and counterbalanced design. Psychophysiological data (electroencephalography) were collected before and after drug administration while subjects engaged in an event-related potential (ERP) task known to be a valid index of attention and cognition (a three-stimulus auditory 'oddball' P300 task). Δ⁹-THC dose-dependently reduced the amplitude of both the target P300b and the novelty P300a. Δ⁹-THC did not have any effect on the latency of either the P300a or P300b, or on early sensory-evoked ERP components preceding the P300 (the N100). Concomitantly, Δ⁹-THC induced psychotomimetic effects, perceptual alterations, and subjective 'high' in a dose-dependent manner. Δ⁹-THC -induced reductions in P3b amplitude correlated with Δ⁹-THC-induced perceptual alterations. Lastly, exploratory analyses examining cannabis use status showed that whereas recent cannabis users had blunted behavioral effects to Δ(9)-THC, there were no dose-related effects of Δ⁹-THC on P300a/b amplitude between cannabis-free and recent cannabis users. Overall, these data suggest that at doses that produce behavioral and subjective effects consistent with the known properties of cannabis, Δ⁹-THC reduced P300a and P300b amplitudes without altering the latency of these ERPs. Cannabinoid agonists may therefore disrupt cortical processes responsible for context updating and the automatic orientation of attention, while leaving processing speed and earlier sensory ERP components intact. Collectively, the findings suggest that CB1R systems modulate top-down and bottom-up processing.

Revising the Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test (CUDIT) by means of Item Response Theory

Cannabis use among adolescents and young adults has become a major public health challenge. Several European countries are currently developing short screening instruments to identify 'problematic' forms of cannabis use in general population surveys. One such instrument is the Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test (CUDIT), a 10-item questionnaire based on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Previous research found that some CUDIT items did not perform well psychometrically. In the interests of improving the psychometric properties of the CUDIT, this study replaces the poorly performing items with new items that specifically address cannabis use. Analyses are based on a sub-sample of 558 recent cannabis users from a representative population sample of 5722 individuals (aged 13-32) who were surveyed in the 2007 Swiss Cannabis Monitoring Study. Four new items were added to the original CUDIT. Psychometric properties of all 14 items, as well as the dimensionality of the supplemented CUDIT were then examined using Item Response Theory. Results indicate the unidimensionality of CUDIT and an improvement in its psychometric performance when three original items (usual hours being stoned; injuries; guilt) are replaced by new ones (motives for using cannabis; missing out leisure time activities; difficulties at work/school). However, improvements were limited to cannabis users with a high problem score. For epidemiological purposes, any further revision of CUDIT should therefore include a greater number of 'easier' items.

Cannabis use while driving: A descriptive study of Australian cannabis users

Aims: There is a limited literature and policy response to the issue of driving under the influence of cannabis. This article focuses on attitudes, beliefs and driving strategies among cannabis users to improve our understanding of the motivations for this behaviour and potential ameliorative strategies.Methods: Participants were 320 recent cannabis users in New South Wales, Australia. A structured interview assessed self-reported driving behaviour, attitudes, risk perceptions and harm reduction strategies associated with driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC), cannabis and any alcohol (DUICA) and cannabis and other drugs (DUICO).Findings: Last year DUIC was reported by 78% of participants, with 27% doing so at least weekly. Approximately one-third reported DUICA (29%) and DUICO (30%), typically less than weekly. While participants strongly believed that driving under the influence of alcohol and DUICA increased accident risk (>97%), fewer believed their own (53%) or others’ (68%) risk was increased by DUIC. The most common strategies for reducing DUIC-related risk involved compensating for perceived impairments, whereas strategies involving forward planning were more frequently implemented for DUICA. Cannabis dependence was related to greater DUIC frequency, permissive attitudes towards DUIC and a tendency not to implement driving risk reduction strategies.Conclusions: These findings suggest that attempts to address DUIC face significant challenges, particularly using non-deterrence-based strategies.

Verbreitung und Einflussfaktoren cannabis-bezogener Probleme bei Jugendlichen. Ergebnisse der Europäischen Schülerstudie zu Alkohol und anderen Drogen (ESPAD) in Deutschland

AIM: Aim of the present analysis is to describe the prevalence of cannabis-related problems in adolescents as well as their factors of influence. METHODS: Data from 1 933 recent cannabis users participating in the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD) were analysed. Cannabis-related problems were assessed using the Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST). RESULTS: The most frequently reported problems were reproaches from family or friends and memory problems. High risk consumption was identified in 9.3% of recent cannabis users. Significant predictors were gender, cigarette consumption, other problem behaviour and friends using cannabis. CONCLUSION: The identification of persons with problematic cannabis use is important in order to offer targeted early interventions.

Likelihood of developing an alcohol and cannabis use disorder during youth: Association with recent use and age

Aim We extend the literature on the association of early onset of drug use and estimated risk for developing a substance use disorder (SUD) by investigating the risk that recent onset of alcohol and cannabis use confers for developing a substance use disorder at each chronological age of adolescence and young adulthood (12–21-years-old). Design Using 2003 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health [Substance Abuse Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), 2004. Overview of Findings from the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Office of Applied Studies, NSDUH Series H-24, DHHS Publication No. SMA-04-3963, Rockville, MD], we computed separate risk indices for developing an alcohol and cannabis use disorder for recent (prior 2 years) alcohol and cannabis users, respectively, at each age from 12 to 21 years of age, and compared estimated risk to recent onsets users among respondents aged 22–26. Findings The results indicated that the teenage years were strongly linked to an elevated risk status. The odds ratio (OR) of having a prior year alcohol use disorder (AUD) among recent onset alcohol users was significantly elevated for youth at ages 14, 16, 17 and 18 (range of ORs = 2.0–2.1) compared to the estimated risk for AUD among recent onset users aged 22–26. For cannabis, we obtained significantly elevated ORs for a cannabis use disorder (CUD) at each of teenage years (ages 12–18; range of ORs = 3.9–7.2), when compared to older recent onset users (aged 22–26). Conclusions These data provide further epidemiological support that adolescence is a particularly vulnerable period for developing a SUD.

Correlates of driving under the influence of cannabis

Background Identifying cannabis users who are most at risk of driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) has important implications for drug treatment and prevention efforts. This paper examined correlates of DUIC among a purposive sample of recent cannabis users. Methods Interviews were carried out among a cross-sectional sample of 320 Australian cannabis users. Past-year prevalence of DUIC (without using alcohol or other drugs) was regressed against a range of potential predictor variables. Results Use of multiple drugs, believing that DUIC does not increase accident risk and cannabis dependence all predicted likelihood of DUIC. There was an interaction between age of first cannabis use and gender, whereby earlier onset cannabis use predicted DUIC but only among women. Conclusions The correlates of drug driving reflected cannabis users’ beliefs about the dangers of cannabis use as well as their patterns of drug consumption. The emergence of cannabis dependence and age of onset as predictors of DUIC suggests a clearly defined role for treatment and prevention efforts in reducing the potential harms associated with DUIC.

Preventing cannabis users from driving under the influence of cannabis

Face-to-face, structured interviews were conducted with 320 recent cannabis users in New South Wales, Australia to assess the likely deterrent effects of (a) increasing the certainty of apprehension for driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) and (b) doubling the severity of penalties for DUIC. Participants were presented with a drug-driving scenario and asked to indicate their likelihood of driving given that scenario. The perceived risk of apprehension and severity of punishment were manipulated in each scenario to create four different certainty/severity conditions and participants were randomly allocated to one of these four groups. A subsidiary aim was to assess the likely impact of providing factual information about the accident risk associated with DUIC. Recent drug drivers who felt at low risk of accident when DUIC were asked to rate their willingness to drive if convinced that it was dangerous. The results suggested that increasing the certainty but not severity of punishment would produce reductions in cannabis-intoxicated driving among recent cannabis users. Providing factual information about the risks associated with DUIC would appear to have little impact on drug-driving rates among this population.