cannabis Archives

New in SAj: Cannabis and cocaine use, drinking outcomes, and quality of life in general hospital inpatients with alcohol use disorder

Jun 23, 2022 by AMERSA

Esperanza Romero-Rodríguez, MD MSc PhD, Clara A. Chen, MHS, Kimberly A. Dukes, PhD, Kaitlin Hartlage, MPH, Tibor P. Palfai, PhD, Kara M. Magane, MS, Jeffrey H. Samet, MD MA MPH and Richard Saitz, MD MPH assess associations between cannabis and cocaine use and two outcomes [heavy drinking days and quality of life] among hospital inpatients with an alcohol use disorder.

This brief report was just published in SAj Volume 43, Issue 1 on June 7, 2022. Read it now!

The Authors’ Own Words: Trajectories of cannabis use beginning in adolescence associated with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder in the midthirties

Dec 7, 2019 by AMERSA

The Authors’ Own Words:

We ask authors to describe their impressions regarding the implications of their accepted work, how their findings will change practice, and what is noteworthy about the work.

Trajectories of cannabis use beginning in adolescence associated with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder in the midthirties

Jung Yeon Lee, PhD; Judith S. Brook, EdD; Stephen J. Finch, PhD; & David W. Brook, MD

Substance Abuse Vol. 39, Iss. 1, 2018

“The findings provide information that PTSD symptoms in the mid 30s can possibly be reduced by decreasing the chronic cannabis use trajectory group, the late quitting trajectory group, and the moderate cannabis use trajectory group. The participants in the early quitting trajectory group who quit using cannabis by age 29 did not statistically differ from the participants who were in the no cannabis use trajectory group in terms of having PTSD symptoms at age 36. This study shows the important role that early quitting plays in reducing the probability of PTSD symptoms. Such information will serve as a guide to intervention programs for PTSD.”

The Authors’ Own Words: The Prevalence of HEDIS Initiation and Engagement in Treatment among Patients with Cannabis Use Disorders in Seven U.S. Health Systems

Nov 25, 2019 by AMERSA

The Authors’ Own Words:

We ask authors to describe their impressions regarding the implications of their accepted work, how their findings will change practice, and what is noteworthy about the work.

The Prevalence of HEDIS Initiation and Engagement in Treatment among Patients with Cannabis Use Disorders in Seven U.S. Health Systems

Constance Weisner, DrPH, MSW; Cynthia I. Campbell, PhD, MPH; Andrea Altschuler, PhD; Bobbi Jo H. Yarborough, PsyD; Gwen T. Lapham, PhD, MPH, MSW; Ingrid A. Binswanger, MD, MPH, MS; Rulin C. Hechter, MD, PhD; Brian K. Ahmedani, PhD, LMSW; Irina V. Haller, PhD, MS; Stacy A. Sterling, DrPH, MSW; Dennis McCarty, PhD; Derek D. Satre, PhD; & Andrea H. Kline-Simon, MS

Substance Abuse Vol. 40, Iss. 3, 2019

“This observational cohort study of 15,202 patients with a cannabis use disorder (CUD) from seven U.S. healthcare systems is the first known study to describe rates of HEDIS-defined alcohol and other drug use disorder (AOD) measures for initiation and engagement in treatment among patients with a newly diagnosed CUD. For these patients, rates of initiation and engagement were low, with considerable variation across index diagnosis setting, AOD comorbidity at index diagnosis, and patient characteristics. Greater adherence to these system-level treatment measures will likely require strong leader and provider partnerships to improve recognition of and linkage to evidence-based treatment for CUD, particularly for those patients with less AOD severity who could still benefit from treatment.“

The Authors’ Own Words: Trends of major depressive episode among people with cannabis use: Findings from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2006-2015

Nov 17, 2019 by AMERSA

The Authors’ Own Words:

We ask authors to describe their impressions regarding the implications of their accepted work, how their findings will change practice, and what is noteworthy about the work.

Trends of major depressive episode among people with cannabis use: Findings from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2006-2015

Giuseppe Carrà, MD, MSc, PhD; Francesco Bartoli, MD, PhD; & Cristina Crocamo, PhD

Substance Abuse Vol. 40, Iss. 2, 2019

“A dose-response association, suggesting that heavy cannabis users are more likely to report depressive disorders, has been hypothesized. We aimed at testing the existence of a linear association between different levels of cannabis use and depressive disorders using data between 2006 and 2015 from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Cannabis users, regardless of intensity, were more likely to have suffered from MDE in the past year. We detected, just for adults, only a minor gradient in MDE rates by increasing cannabis levels, which is unlikely to support a proper dose-response relationship as found in previous studies. Other common predisposing factors, including genetic liability and early familial environment, are likely to play a key role for depression onset. Nonetheless, since cannabis users have consistently higher prevalence rates of depressive disorders compared with non-users, there is the need for integrated screening and treatment programs to tackle this comorbid condition.“