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The American Journal of Drug and... Jun 2024It is known that cannabis use affects memory and sleep problems independently. However, to date, how memory and sleep problems may interact as a result of cannabis use...
It is known that cannabis use affects memory and sleep problems independently. However, to date, how memory and sleep problems may interact as a result of cannabis use remains unknown. We performed a secondary analysis of existing data to determine whether sleep quality mediates the association between cannabis use and memory and whether sex moderated these effects. A total of 141 adults with cannabis use disorder (CUD) (83 men) and 87 without CUD (39 men) participated in this study. Outcome measures included self-reported sleep problems from the past 7 days (Marijuana Withdrawal Checklist), learning and memory performance via the short visual object learning task (sVOLT), short visual object learning task delayed (sVOLTd), and verbal memory via the N-back. Bootstrapped mediation and moderated mediation analyses were run to test if sleep quality mediated the association between cannabis use and memory outcomes and whether sex moderated these effects, respectively. Sleep quality mediated the effect of group (i.e. adults with and without CUD) on sVOLT efficiency scores (indirect effect ß = -.08, 95% CI [-0.14, -0.04]) and sVOLTd efficiency scores (indirect effect ß = -.09, 95% CI [-0.14, -0.04]), where greater sleep difficulties was associated with poorer memory performance (decreased efficiency scores). Sex did not moderate these relationships. These initial findings of a mediating role of sleep in the association between CUD and visual learning memory highlight potential critical downstream effects of disrupted sleep in those with CUD and suggest the importance of investigating sleep in CUD.
PubMed: 38917114
DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2024.2362832 -
Cureus May 2024Celiac artery compression syndrome is not frequent in the pediatric population. The syndrome may entail long-standing abdominal pain, recurrent vomiting,...
Celiac artery compression syndrome is not frequent in the pediatric population. The syndrome may entail long-standing abdominal pain, recurrent vomiting, bloating, weight loss, and an abdominal bruit, which in the case of our patient, was an incidental finding. Notably, patients may be asymptomatic. Our patient is a 16-year-old male who presented with concerns about multiple, non-tender chest lymph nodes lasting for two weeks. He had also lost 80 lbs. over one year. On examination, however, an abdominal bruit was discovered, and a diagnostic workup was significant for celiac artery compression following a magnetic resonance angiography of the abdomen. Due to his significant weight loss and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, a chest computed tomography (CT) scan was done to rule out malignancy. The chest CT scan was reported as normal. Additionally, a renal duplex ultrasound was done to rule out renal artery stenosis, considering he had presented with elevated blood pressure; this was also unremarkable. Although this patient had a history of marijuana use, his assessment did not show marked dependence. Substance abuse and atherosclerotic vascular disease can be predisposing factors for celiac artery compression syndrome in older individuals. However, compression of the celiac trunk by the median arcuate ligament is a congenital anomaly more appreciated in younger age groups. The patient was referred to vascular surgery for possible median arcuate ligament release.
PubMed: 38894788
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60580 -
JAMA Network Open Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; United States; Aged; Female; Male; Marijuana Abuse; Cannabis; Legislation, Drug; Middle Aged; Aged, 80 and over
PubMed: 38888925
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.17634 -
Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention,... Jun 2024Canada legalized recreational cannabis in 2018, and one of the primary objectives of the Cannabis Act was to protect youth by reducing their access to cannabis and... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Canada legalized recreational cannabis in 2018, and one of the primary objectives of the Cannabis Act was to protect youth by reducing their access to cannabis and providing public education. Canada has the highest prevalence of cannabis use worldwide, particularly among youth and young adults under the age of 25. Cannabis use is linked with many adverse effects for youth and young adults including psychosis, anxiety, depression, respiratory distress, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, and impaired cognitive performance. Despite the high prevalence of cannabis use and the evolution of policies in Canada and globally, significant knowledge and research gaps remain regarding youth and young adult cannabis use. The aim of this scoping review is to map the extent, nature, and range of evidence available on youth and young adult cannabis use in Canada since its legalization, in order to strengthen policies, services, treatments, training, and public education strategies.
METHODS
Using a scoping review framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley, along with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we conducted a rigorous search in five academic databases: MEDLINE, Embase, APA PsycINFO, CINAHL and Web of Science Core Collection. We included empirical studies that collected data in Canada after the legalization of recreational cannabis (October 2018) and focused on youth or young adults < 30. Two reviewers independently screened articles in two stages and extracted relevant information from articles meeting the inclusion criteria.
RESULTS
Of the 47 articles meeting our inclusion criteria, 92% used quantitative methods, 6% were qualitative, and 2% used a mixed-methods approach. Over two-thirds (68%) used secondary data. These studies were categorized into six focus areas: (1) prevalence, patterns, and trends, (2) cannabis-related injuries and emergency department (ED) visits, (3) rates and patterns during the pandemic, (4) perceptions of cannabis use, (5) prevention tools, and (6) cannabis-related offenses. Key findings from the studies reviewed include an increase in cannabis use among 18-24-year-olds post-legalization, with mixed results for youth under 18. ED visits for intentional and unintentional cannabis-related injuries have increased in young children and teens. Perception studies show a mix of concern and normalization of cannabis use. Though limited, prevention studies are promising in raising awareness. A decline in cannabis-related offenses was noted by one study. The review highlights several research gaps, including the need for more qualitative data, disaggregation of demographic data, intervention research, and comprehensive studies on the physical and mental health impacts of cannabis use among youth and young adults.
CONCLUSION
Maintaining a public health approach is critical, with a focus on reducing the high prevalence of cannabis use among youth and young adults. This involves implementing prevention strategies to minimize harms, enhancing public education, minimizing commercialization, reducing youth access to cannabis, promoting guidelines for lower-risk cannabis use and harm reduction strategies, and increasing training for healthcare providers.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Young Adult; Canada; Marijuana Use; Public Health; Legislation, Drug; COVID-19; Adult
PubMed: 38886804
DOI: 10.1186/s13011-024-00615-9 -
PloS One 2024Although cannabis was legalized in Canada in 2018 and is one of the most used substances in Canada, few studies have examined how individuals with different patterns of...
Although cannabis was legalized in Canada in 2018 and is one of the most used substances in Canada, few studies have examined how individuals with different patterns of cannabis use differ in their attempts to decrease or abstain from cannabis. The current study examined how groups of cannabis users, which were formed on the basis of demographic characteristics, substance use patterns, mental health symptoms, and self-reported quality of life differed on their experiences with cannabis cessation. A sample of 147 Canadian adult participants who had attempted to decrease or quit cannabis were recruited from the community (n = 84, 57.14%) and crowdsourcing (n = 63, 42.86%). Four profiles of cannabis users emerged using a Latent Profile Analysis: low-risk (n = 62, 42.18%), rapidly escalating high-risk (n = 40, 27.21%), long-term high severity (n = 35, 23.81%), and long-term lower severity (n = 10, 6.80%). Individuals in the rapidly escalating profile had attempted to decrease their cannabis use more times compared to other profiles. More participants in the long-term high severity group found their use stayed the same or got worse after their last cessation attempt, compared to the low-risk group where more individuals indicated their use stopped. The results of the current study indicate that cannabis users differ in their attempts at reducing or ceasing cannabis use and that they may benefit from different intensity of cannabis interventions.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Adult; Canada; Quality of Life; Young Adult; Cannabis; Middle Aged; Marijuana Smoking; Marijuana Use; Marijuana Abuse; Self Report; Adolescent
PubMed: 38861510
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305088 -
Alcohol and Alcoholism (Oxford,... May 2024High-intensity drinking (HID), extreme drinking considerably above the level of heavy episodic drinking (HED), is associated with long-term health and social...
AIMS
High-intensity drinking (HID), extreme drinking considerably above the level of heavy episodic drinking (HED), is associated with long-term health and social consequences. There is limited understanding of HID beyond young adulthood. This study aims to identify concurrent risk factors for HID, comparing age differences among all adults.
METHODS
Multinomial logistic and linear regression modeling was performed using a nationally-representative sample of adults (analytic n = 7956) from the 2015 and 2020 National Alcohol Surveys. The outcomes were any HID of 8-11 drinks and 12+ drinks for men, and 8+ drinks for women, and corresponding frequencies. Concurrent risk factors included coping motive, sensation seeking, simultaneous use of alcohol and cannabis (SAC), and drinking at a bar or party. Analyses were stratified by age (18-29 vs. older) and sex.
RESULTS
For younger men, sensation-seeking was significantly associated with HID (vs. no HED) at both levels and frequency of HID 8-11 drinks, while drinking to cope was only significant for 12+ drinks. For older men, drinking to cope was a consistent predictor for both HID level and its frequency, but sensation-seeking was not significant. Both coping and sensation-seeking were significantly associated with any HID for all women, while coping was significant for HID frequency for younger women. Frequent drinking at bars and parties were associated with greater odds of HID for all adults. With HED as referent, similar patterns of (though fewer significant) associations were observed.
CONCLUSIONS
Younger and older adults share similar risk factors for HID, with coping more consistent for older men.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Adult; Adaptation, Psychological; Motivation; Young Adult; United States; Adolescent; Alcohol Drinking; Risk Factors; Marijuana Use; Middle Aged; Age Factors; Binge Drinking; Sex Factors
PubMed: 38851209
DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agae038 -
Child Abuse & Neglect Jun 2024Evidence suggests that adults with a history of child maltreatment (CM) engage in substance misuse driven by 'coping motives': maladaptive beliefs that substances help...
BACKGROUND
Evidence suggests that adults with a history of child maltreatment (CM) engage in substance misuse driven by 'coping motives': maladaptive beliefs that substances help them cope with negative emotions. However, the specificity of this risk pathway is under-researched in younger and non-Western cohorts.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to determine whether coping motives play a distinct role compared to other motives for substance use in mediating the relationship between CM and problematic alcohol and marijuana use in a sample of South African adolescents.
PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING
A sample of 688 high school students (M age = 15.03 years; 62.5 % female) in Cape Town, South Africa, completed a cross sectional survey.
METHODS
Participants completed self-report measures of CM exposure, motives for using alcohol and marijuana (coping, enhancement, social and conformity), and alcohol and marijuana related problems. Participants who endorsed using alcohol (N = 180) or marijuana (N = 136) were included in analysis. A parallel mediation model was conducted for each substance (alcohol and marijuana, respectively) to assess which motives mediated the relationship between CM exposure and substance-related problems.
RESULTS
CM exposure predicted both alcohol-and marijuana related problems. The relationship between CM exposure and alcohol-related problems was partially mediated by coping motives (p < .001, 95%CI 0.028, 0.115) and, to a lesser extent, conformity motives (p < .01, 95%CI 0.001, 0.041), but not by social motives or enhancement motives. The relationship between CM exposure and marijuana-related problems was partially mediated by coping motives (p < .001, 95%CI 0.004, 0.037), but not by conformity, social or enhancement motives.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings support the importance of coping motives as a mediator between CM and problematic substance use across different substances of abuse in South African adolescents, and the role of conformity motives in problematic alcohol use. Future research should explore whether these findings hold across other sociocultural contexts, and the utility of interventions to address coping motives for substance use in adolescence.
PubMed: 38850749
DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106885 -
Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology &... Jun 2024Abuse-related drug usage is a public health issue. Drosophila melanogaster has been used as an animal model to study the biological effects of these psychoactive... (Review)
Review
Abuse-related drug usage is a public health issue. Drosophila melanogaster has been used as an animal model to study the biological effects of these psychoactive substances in preclinical studies. Our objective in this review is to evaluate the adverse effects produced by cocaine, nicotine, and marijuana during the development of D. melanogaster. We searched experimental studies in which D. melanogaster was exposed to these three psychoactive drugs in seven online databases up to January 2023. Two reviewers independently extracted the data. Fifty-one studies met eligibility criteria and were included in the data extraction: nicotine (n = 26), cocaine (n = 20), and marijuana (n = 5). Fifteen studies were eligible for meta-analysis. Low doses (∼0.6 mM) of nicotine increased locomotor activity in fruit flies, while high doses (≥3 mM) led to a decrease. Similarly, exposure to cocaine increased locomotor activity, resulting in decreased climbing response in D. melanogaster. Studies with exposure to marijuana did not present a profile for our meta-analysis. However, this drug has been less associated with locomotor changes, but alterations in body weight and fat content and changes in cardiac function. Our analyses have shown that fruit flies exposed to drugs of abuse during different developmental stages, such as larvae and adults, exhibit molecular, morphological, behavioral, and survival changes that are dependent on the dosage. These phenotypes resemble the adverse effects of psychoactive substances in clinical medicine.
PubMed: 38844126
DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.111049 -
The American Journal of Drug and... Jun 2024This study explored the increased quantity and frequency of alcohol use in the American Indian (AI) population during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aims of this study were...
This study explored the increased quantity and frequency of alcohol use in the American Indian (AI) population during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aims of this study were to explore possible associations between covariables and both binge drinking and alcohol consumption during COVID-19. This cross-sectional survey study analyzed data from a sample of AI individuals (63% female) residing in California ( = 411) and Oklahoma ( = 657) between October 2020-January 2021. Analysis included summary statistics and multivariable logistic regression, including a variety of socio-economic, COVID-19 concern, and tobacco and marijuana use variables. One or more alcohol binge episodes were reported between October 2020-January 2021 in 19.3% of participants and elevated overall alcohol consumption was reported by 21.6% of participants. Higher odds of elevated alcohol consumption occurred in women and those following more social distancing measures. The odds of binge drinking or elevated alcohol consumption in those using both marijuana and tobacco (aOR/ adjusted odds ratio:18.9, 95% CI = 8.5, 42.2, and aOR:3.9, 95% CI = 1.7, 8.6, respectively) were higher compared to those using neither. Similarly, the odds of binge drinking or elevated alcohol consumption in those using tobacco only (aOR:4.7, 95% CI = 2.9, 7.7 and aOR: 2.0, 95% CI = 1.1, 3.5, respectively) were higher compared to those using neither. This study found high rates of alcohol use and bingeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Offering collaborative, culturally sensitive, and affordable support services are important components of intervention and preparation for future stressful events on local, as well as global levels.
PubMed: 38843382
DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2024.2344482 -
PloS One 2024Illicit drug use is a significant public health problem. Studies have shown a high prevalence of cocaine and cannabis use in transgender women (TGW).
INTRODUCTION
Illicit drug use is a significant public health problem. Studies have shown a high prevalence of cocaine and cannabis use in transgender women (TGW).
OBJECTIVE
To describe the consumption patterns of cannabis and cocaine/crack use and variables associated with their use in TGW in Central Brazil.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted on TGW in Goiás, Brazil. Participants were recruited using a respondent-driven sampling method and were interviewed face-to-face about cannabis and crack-cocaine and the variables associated with them. The Alcohol Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test was used to assess substance use. Unweighted logistic regression was used to identify variables associated with cannabis and crack cocaine use. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
RESULTS
A total of 440 transgender women participated in the study. Their median age was 25 years (interquartile range: 20.5-29.5 years). Most participants were single (85.5%) and had engaged in sex work in their lifetime (58.6%). Cannabis was reported by 68.9% and 53.4% of participants in their lifetime and in the past three months, respectively, and cocaine/crack use was reported by 59.8% and 44.1% of participants in their lifetime and the past three months, respectively. Of the participants, 10.2% reported high-risk cannabis use, and 9.1% reported high-risk cocaine/crack use. Furthermore, 35% of participants reported using both drugs. Previous physical violence (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 2.37), inconsistent condom uses during anal sex (AOR: 2.17), and moderate-/high-risk cocaine/crack use (AOR: 3.14) were associated with high-risk cannabis use. Previous sexual violence (AOR: 2.84), previous STI (AOR: 2.90), moderate-/high-risk cannabis (AOR: 3.82), and binge drinking (AOR; 3.28) were associated with high-risk cocaine/crack use.
CONCLUSION
Our study found a high frequency, significant overlap in the use of cannabis and cocaine/crack use and violence associated with these drugs consumption among TGW, highlighting the urgent need for health policies for drug disorders among this socially marginalized group.
Topics: Humans; Female; Brazil; Adult; Transgender Persons; Cross-Sectional Studies; Crack Cocaine; Young Adult; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Prevalence; Male; Marijuana Abuse; Cannabis
PubMed: 38843195
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304219