scholarly journals Investigating Relationships Between Alcohol and Cannabis Use in an Online Survey of Cannabis Users: A Focus on Cannabinoid Content and Cannabis for Medical Purposes

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hollis C. Karoly ◽  
Raeghan L. Mueller ◽  
Chrysta C. Andrade ◽  
Kent E. Hutchison
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Medical Cannabis ◽  
Drinking Frequency ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Drinking Occasion

Cannabis is commonly used among people who drink alcohol, but findings are mixed regarding the direction of this relationship. The type of cannabis used [high-cannabidiol (CBD) vs. high-delta-9tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)] and motives for use (i.e., whether cannabis is used to treat a medical condition) may influence the relationship between cannabis and drinking. Specifically, CBD has shown preclinical promise in reducing alcohol consumption, and medical cannabis users report using cannabis to reduce drinking. This study leverages survey data from cannabis users who drink alcohol (N = 533). Respondents were categorized as using cannabis to treat (CTT) a medical condition or as individuals whose cannabis use is not intended to treat (NCTT) a medical condition and grouped based on the THC/CBD ratio of the flower or edible cannabis they typically use (e.g., “High-THC/CBD,” “Medium-THC/CBD” and “Low-THC/CBD”). The CTT group (n = 412) reported drinking significantly less frequently than the NCTT group (n = 121). Cannabinoid content of flower cannabis was associated with alcohol consumed on cannabis-use days, such that individuals in the High-THC/CBD group drink more on cannabis-use days compared to the Medium-THC/CBD group. Cannabinoid content of edible cannabis was associated with drinks per drinking occasion, such that the High-THC/CBD group consumed the most drinks and the Low-THC/CBD group consumed the fewest. For both edible and flower groupings, higher-THC/CBD cannabis was associated with more frequent co-use than lower-THC/CBD cannabis. Results suggest that whether someone uses cannabis to treat a medical condition may impact their drinking frequency, and the cannabinoid content in flower and edible cannabis impacts alcohol consumption.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Pain Sensitivity, Pain Catastrophizing and Hangover Severity

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 2047
Author(s):  
Hama M. Saeed ◽  
Annabel S. M. Sips ◽  
Lauren J. Owen ◽  
Joris C. Verster
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Pain Sensitivity ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Pain Catastrophizing ◽  
Small Magnitude ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Sensitivity To Pain ◽  
Drinking Occasion

Recent research found a significant and positive correlation between hangover severity and pain catastrophizing. The current study aimed to verify these findings. Data from N = 673 subjects with a mean (SD) age of 42.2 (19.1) years old (range: 18 to 87 years old) was evaluated. An online survey collected data on alcohol consumption and hangovers related to their heaviest drinking occasion between 15 January and 14 March 2020. When correcting for the amount of alcohol consumed, significant correlations were found between hangover severity and both sensitivity to pain (r = 0.085, p = 0.029) and pain catastrophizing (r = 0.095, p = 0.015). In addition, subjective intoxication correlated significantly with sensitivity to pain (r = 0.080, p = 0.041) and pain catastrophizing (r = 0.099, p = 0.011). Overall, the results were more pronounced in men than women, and the associations with pain catastrophizing were strongest for the subscale assessing rumination. In conclusion, although statistically significant, the observed correlations were of small magnitude. Nevertheless, the observations confirm previous findings that suggest a link between pain perception, alcohol consumption, and hangover severity, which warrants further investigation.

scholarly journals Online survey into developing a model for a legal cannabis market in the United Kingdom

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 205032452110349
Author(s):  
Edward James ◽  
Thomas L Robertshaw ◽  
Michael J Pascoe ◽  
Fiona M Chapman ◽  
Andrew D Westwell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Medical Conditions ◽  
Medical Cannabis ◽  
Individual Liberty ◽  
The United Kingdom

Background Despite rescheduling of cannabis to Schedule 2 and amendments to the law permitting legal availability of cannabis for the treatment of medical conditions, access to cannabis for medical use remains challenging for patients in the United Kingdom (UK). Recreational use is widespread despite laws stating users can be sentenced to prison for up to 5 years for possession. Objective The aim of the study was to develop a model for a legal cannabis market in the UK building upon the results of a preceding study in which a UK population sample determined that pharmacies are the most suitable primary legal vendor of cannabis as opposed to regulated shops or the black market. Methods An online survey was developed using Qualtrics software and advertised via the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies’ Facebook, Twitter and Instagram social media accounts and monthly newsletter. Results Three hundred and ninety seven individuals, a majority having used cannabis at least once, consented to participate in the study. The participants concluded that there is enough evidence for cannabis to be prescribed to treat a range of medical conditions. In addition to pharmacies providing cannabis to patients with a prescription, a majority of participants supported cannabis being sold in pharmacies for harm reduction purposes and allowing access to medicinal cannabis in cases where supporting evidence is insufficient to merit a prescription. Participants supported greater integration between dispensing pharmacies and mental health services. Overall, the participants did not oppose a consultation or screening for potential cannabis users prior to obtaining access from licensed vendors. UK participants were supportive of the concept of a cannabis card, which users can present to licensed vendors such as pharmacies, with specific recommendations (such as strains relevant to a patient’s medical condition) being coded into the card. A majority of participants supported the existence of shisha-type bars for the purchase and onsite consumption of cannabis and determined that such vendors should not be part of a pharmacy chain of stores or regulated by pharmacy regulators. The participants generally preferred that laws regarding public consumption are in line with existing smoking legislation. Participants determined that it should be legally permitted to grow cannabis at home for personal medical and non-medical purposes but not to sell for profit. Conclusion The results are suggestive of a regulatory system that medical and non-medical cannabis users can use which aims to maximise therapeutic applications, minimise harms and respect individual liberty.

scholarly journals Binge Drinking and Obesity-Related Eating: The Moderating Roles of the Eating Broadcast Viewing Experience among Korean Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 8066
Author(s):  
Jiye Kim ◽  
Saegyeol Choi ◽  
Hyekyeong Kim ◽  
Soontae An
Keyword(s):  
Binge Drinking ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Inverse Association ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Korean Adults ◽  
External Eating ◽  
Drinking Frequency ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Viewing Experience

Recently, there has been a notable rise in binge drinking and in the popularity of eating broadcasts via TV and online platforms, especially in Korea. This study analyzed the moderating effect of the eating broadcast viewing experience on the relationship between binge drinking and obesity-related eating behaviors. Cross-sectional self-reported online survey data were collected from 1125 Korean adults. Moderation models for restrained, emotional, and external eating behaviors were tested using moderation analyses with Hayes’s PROCESS version 3.5 compatible with SPSS. As a result, the eating broadcast viewing experience moderated the relationship between binge drinking frequency and external eating (Fchange = 2.686, p = 0.045). More frequent binge drinking was associated with a higher level of external eating in participants who only watched online eating broadcasts, especially among women. Participants in their twenties showed the same above association; additionally, those who only watched TV eating broadcasts showed an inverse association, indicating that more frequent binge drinking was associated with a lower level of external eating. Consequently, an eating broadcast viewing experience was one of the environmental factors associated with binge drinking that influences obesity-related eating behaviors.

scholarly journals The effect of soft skills, ethics, and value on the willingness of employers to continue recruiting UMT graduates

2021 ◽  
pp. 1689-1698
Author(s):  
Abdul Hafaz Ngah ◽  
Nurul Izni Kamalrulzaman ◽  
Fauzayani Ibrahim ◽  
Noor Azuan Abu Osman ◽  
Nur Asma Ariffin
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Partial Least Squares ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Structural Equation Modelling ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Equation Modelling ◽  
The Relationship

This study aims to investigate the effect of soft skills and ethics and value on the employers’ willingness to continue recruiting Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) graduates, together with the moderating effect of knowledge on the relationship between soft skills and the employers’ willingness to continue recruiting UMT graduates. The study’s respondents comprised of 208 employers in Malaysia who responded through an online survey using Google Forms. The survey data was then analyzed using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), indicating that soft skills positively affected the employers’ willingness to continue recruiting UMT graduates. Nevertheless, ethics and value were found to be insignificant factors on the employers’ willingness to continue recruiting UMT graduates. It was also revealed that knowledge had the moderating effect on the relationship between soft skills and the employers’ willingness to continue recruiting UMT graduates. Therefore, universities were recommended to invest in soft skills and knowledge education to ensure that graduates met the employers’ professional recruitment standards in areas of expertise.

scholarly journals Alcohol and cannabis use in Norway during the period 1995-2009

2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elin K. Bye ◽  
Ståle Østhus
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Sharp Increase ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Moderate Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Turn Of The Millennium ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Font Size ◽  
Pure Alcohol ◽  
Drinking Frequency

<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: x-small;"><p>The description of alcohol and cannabis use in the period 1995-2009 is based on data from five sets of surveys. Sales figures for alcohol consumption are also included. Alcohol sales in Norway increased by 40 per cent during the period 1995-2009, from 4.8 to 6.7 litres of pure alcohol per inhabitant aged 15 years and over. This increase largely reflects a sharp increase in the sale of wine. Also when taking into account unregistered alcohol consumption, the consumption of alcohol increased considerably in Norway during the period in question. The increased alcohol consumption seems to be due to an increase in moderate alcohol consumers and/or an increase in situations involving moderate alcohol consumption. Population surveys indicate that there has been an increase in the proportion who drink alcohol and in the proportion of people who drink relatively often, but the increased drinking frequency is not accompanied by a corresponding increase in the proportion who often drink until they are intoxicated. On average, men drink more often and greater quantities than women, with the exception of wine. The proportion who drink alcohol at least twice a month or more has increased in all age groups, and the increase has been particularly marked among those above the age of 50. Despite a reduction in consumption among young people in recent years, consumption and drinking until intoxicated are still widespread. Young girls drink alcohol as often as boys and are equally often intoxicated. As for cannabis, there was an increase in the age group 15-20 years in the second half of the 1990s, followed by a decrease and stagnation since the turn of the millennium. There was little or no difference between boys and girls in the 15-20 age group in the use of cannabis, while among young adults, far more men than women reported that they had used cannabis</p></span></span>

Long-term medical cannabis use and risk factors for diversion: Report on physician's guidance and patients’ behaviour

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-23
Author(s):  
Sharon R. Sznitman ◽  
Victoria Goldberg ◽  
Hedva Sheinman-Yuffe ◽  
Yuval Zolotov ◽  
Ezequiel Flechter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Medical Cannabis ◽  
Safety Practices ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Safe Storage ◽  
Regular Manner ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractObjectivesVarious jurisdictions have legalized cannabis for medical purposes. As with all psychoactive medications, medical cannabis carries a risk of diversion and accidental ingestion. These risks may be particularly high among long-term medical cannabis patients as safety practices may become less salient to patients once the treatment becomes part of everyday life. The current study examines whether patients who have used medical cannabis for longer periods differ from those who have used for shorter periods in terms of sociodemographic background and other key aspects of medical cannabis use. Furthermore, the study examines the relationship between length of medical cannabis treatment and risk factors related to storage and diversion. Finally, the study examines the extent to which oncologists provide information to their patients about safe storage and disposal.MethodsOne hundred twenty-one medical cannabis oncology patients were interviewed face-to-face and 55 oncologists participated in a survey about safe storage and disposal practices related to medical cannabis.ResultsLength of medical cannabis treatment was related to administration by smoking and using higher monthly dosages. In terms of risk for unsafe storage and diversion, length of medical cannabis was positively associated with using cannabis outside the home and having been asked to give away medical cannabis. Physicians did not report providing information to patients regarding safe storage and disposal practices in a regular manner.Significance of resultsResults suggest that there is an ongoing risk of unsafe storage and diversion over the course of medical cannabis treatment. Oncologists may need to give more consistent and continued training in safe storage and disposal practices, especially among long-term medical cannabis patients.

scholarly journals The Prevalence of Vaping and Smoking as Modes of Delivery for Nicotine and Cannabis among Youth in Canada, England and the United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (21) ◽  
pp. 4111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fathima Fataar ◽  
David Hammond
Keyword(s):  
Regression Models ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Medical Cannabis ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Canadian Youth ◽  
Patterns Of Use ◽  
Country Differences ◽  
The U.S

Background: Vaping has become an increasingly common mode of administration for both nicotine and cannabis, with overlap among users, devices, as well as nicotine and cannabis companies. There is a need to understand patterns of use among youth, including the way nicotine and cannabis are administered. Methods: Data are from Wave 2 of the ITC Youth Tobacco and Vaping survey, an online survey conducted in 2018 among 16–19 year-olds recruited from commercial panels in Canada (n = 3757), England (n = 3819), and the U.S. (n = 3961). The prevalence of past 30-day vaping nicotine, non-nicotine and cannabis substances, as well as cannabis modes of use was examined. Logistic regression models examined between country differences in prevalence. Results: Past 30-day cannabis use was highest among Canadian youth (16.6%), followed by youth in the U.S. (13.8%) and England (9.0%). Vaping e-cigarettes was substantially more prevalent than vaping cannabis in all three countries. All forms of cannabis use were higher among Canadian and U.S. youth compared to England (p < 0.001 for all). Past 30-day cannabis users in the U.S. were more likely to report vaping cannabis oil (30.1%), and consuming solid concentrates such as wax and shatter (30.2%), compared to cannabis users in Canada (18.6% and 22.9%) and England (14.3% and 11.0%; p < 0.001 for all). Conclusions: Youth are administering cannabis and nicotine using a wide diversity of modes. Cannabis users in the U.S.—where an increasing number of states have legalized medical and non-medical cannabis—reported notably higher use of more potent cannabis products, including cannabis oils and extracts.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Lockdown 2020 Changed Patterns of Alcohol and Cannabis Use in Swiss Elite Athletes and Bodybuilders: Results From an Online Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Imboden ◽  
Malte Christian Claussen ◽  
Samuel Iff ◽  
Boris B. Quednow ◽  
Erich Seifritz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Trait Anxiety ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
National Level ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Daily Training

Objectives: During the COVID-19 pandemic, increased patterns of substance use have been reported in the general population. However, whether this also applies to athletes is not yet clear. This study aimed to detect changes in alcohol consumption and cannabis use in elite athletes and bodybuilders during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Switzerland.Methods: Between April 25 and May 25, 2020, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted among bodybuilders and Swiss elite athletes who were active in Olympic sports and disciplines approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on at least the national level. The collected data included information on alcohol and cannabis use during the last month (lockdown) and in the year before COVID-19 lockdown (pre-lockdown), daily training times, existential fears on a scale from 1 to 100, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression (PHQ-9), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).Results:N = 275 athletes (elite athletes: n = 193; bodybuilders: n = 82) was included in this study. Both pre-lockdown and during lockdown, more bodybuilders used cannabis (both time points: p &lt; 0.001) than elite athletes, and more elite athletes drank alcohol (pre-lockdown: p = 0.005, lockdown: p = 0.002) compared to bodybuilders. During lockdown, fewer athletes drank alcohol compared to before, but those who continued drinking did so on more days per week (p &lt; 0.001, Eta2 = 0.13). Elite athletes were more likely to increase their drinking with 17.7 vs. 8.2% in bodybuilders. When compared to pre-lockdown measures, the number of athletes using cannabis did not change during lockdown. Only three of 203 elite athletes reported using cannabis during lockdown; this contrasts with 16 of 85 bodybuilders. In a multivariate regression model, existential fears and a lower ISI score were significant predictors for increased alcohol consumption during the lockdown in the entire sample. In a model based on elite athletes only, male sex and a lower ISI score predicted increased alcohol consumption. In a bodybuilder-based model, predictors of increased alcohol consumption were existential fears and trait anxiety.Conclusion: We suggest identifying athletes who are at risk for increased alcohol and cannabis use; we suggest this to be able to professionally support them during stressful times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Medical cannabis use in the Australian community following introduction of legal access: The 2018-2019 Online Cross-Sectional Cannabis as Medicine Survey (CAMS-18)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Lintzeris ◽  
Llewellyn Mills ◽  
Anastasia Suraev ◽  
Maria Bravo ◽  
Thomas Arkell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Medical Profession ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Medical Cannabis ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Plant Matter

Abstract Background: In 2016 the Australian federal government passed legislation enabling a range of cannabis-based products to be prescribed to patients by registered healthcare professionals. An online survey conducted immediately prior to these legislative changes found that the vast majority of respondents at the time were illicitly sourcing cannabis plant matter, smoking was the preferred route of administration, and mental health, chronic pain, and sleep conditions were the most frequently cited reasons for medical cannabis use. This manuscript reports the results of a follow-up survey conducted in 2018-2019, the Cannabis As Medicine Survey (CAMS-18). The goal of this second questionnaire was to examine patterns of use and consumer perspectives regarding medical cannabis use in Australia, two years after the introduction of legal access pathways. Methods: Anonymous online cross-sectional survey with convenience sample, recruited mainly through online media between September 2018 and March 2019. Participants were adults (18 years or over) residing in Australia who reported using a cannabis product for self-identified therapeutic reasons during the preceding 12 months. The survey measured consumer characteristics; indications and patterns of medical cannabis use; routes and frequency of administration; perceived benefits and harms; experiences and preferred models of access to medical cannabis. Results: Data were available for 1388 respondents. The main categories of condition being treated with medical cannabis were pain (36.4%), mental health (32.8%), sleep (9.2%), neurological (5.2%) and cancer (3.8%). Respondents reported using medical cannabis on 15.8 (11.2) days in the past 28, by inhaled (71.4%) or oral (26.5%) routes and spending AUD$82.27 ($101.27) per week. There were high levels of self-reported effectiveness, but also high rates of side effects. There was uncertainty regarding the composition of illicit cannabinoid products and concerns regarding their possible contamination. Few respondents (2.7%) had accessed legally prescribed medical cannabis, with the main perceived barriers being cost, disinterest from the medical profession, and stigma regarding cannabis use. Conclusions: Chronic pain, mental health and sleep remain the main clinical conditions for which consumers report using medical cannabis. Despite two years of legal availability, most consumers in Australia reported accessing illicit cannabis products, with uncertainty regarding the quality or composition of cannabis products.

scholarly journals The interplay between childhood trauma, cognitive biases, and cannabis use on the risk of psychosis in nonclinical young adults in Poland

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorota Frydecka ◽  
Błażej Misiak ◽  
Kamila Kotowicz ◽  
Renata Pionke ◽  
Martyna Krężołek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Childhood Trauma ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Cognitive Biases ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Traumatic Events ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Traumatic Experience ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background. Childhood traumatic events are risk factors for psychotic-like experiences (PLEs). However, the mechanisms explaining how trauma may contribute to the development of PLEs are not fully understood. In our study, we investigated whether cannabis use and cognitive biases mediate the relationship between early trauma and PLEs. Methods. A total sample of 6,772 young adults (age 26.6 ± 4.7, 2,181 male and 3,433 female) was recruited from the general population to participate in an online survey. We excluded 1,158 individuals due to a self-reported lifetime diagnosis of any mental disorder. The online survey included selected items from the following questionnaires: Traumatic Experience Checklist (TEC, 3 items), Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Questionnaire (CECA.Q, 3 items), Cannabis Problems Questionnaire (CPQ, 10 items), Davos Assessment of Cognitive Biases Scale (DACOBS-18, 9 items), and Prodromal Questionnaire-16 (PQ-16). Mediation analyses were performed with respect to different categories of traumatic experiences (emotional, physical and sexual abuse as well as emotional neglect). Results. Our results showed significant associations of any time of childhood trauma with higher scores of cannabis use (CPQ), cognitive biases (DACOBS), and PLEs (PQ-16) (p < 0.001). We found a direct effect of childhood trauma on PLEs as well as significant indirect effect mediated through cannabis use and cognitive biases. All models tested for the effects of specific childhood adversities revealed similar results. The percentage of variance in PQ-16 scores explained by serial mediation models varied between 32.8 and 34.2% depending on childhood trauma category. Conclusion. Cannabis use and cognitive biases play an important mediating role in the relationship between childhood traumatic events and the development of PLEs in a nonclinical young adult population.

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