Harm reduction for cannabis: Factor analysis of a protective behavioral strategies survey

Substance use and victimization experiences among college students in Spain

OBJECTIVE

We examined relationships between different types and patterns of substance use and victimization experiences.

PARTICIPANTS

College students from two universities in Spain completed an online, cross-sectional survey.

METHOD

A series of tetrachoric correlations were estimated to examine the bivariate associations between different types of substances and victimization experiences. Regression analyses then examined relationships between patterns of substance use (non-users, mono-users, and poly-users), and victimization.

RESULTS

Slightly over half (57.7%) of students reported any form of victimization during the previous year, and most students (87.0%) reported using substances during the last three months. Polysubstance users were more likely than non-users to experience any victimization, as well as multiple forms of victimization.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings highlight the importance of differentiating types and patterns of substance use when developing prevention and intervention programs. Implementing intervention strategies that target polysubstance users and decrease substance use could reduce rates of victimization among college students.

Risk Reduction Strategies for Adolescent Cannabis Use Considering COVID-19 Stressors

ABSTRACT

The past 2 years has been a challenge as society made huge adaptations to keep people safe from COVID-19 and struggled to continue life on a day-to-day basis. Working with families, young adults, and adolescents, nurses are often faced with caring for individuals who recreationally use cannabis and believe use is harmless. Adolescents as a group tend to appraise information from a different lens than adults. In an evolving world, where cannabis is legalized for medicinal and recreational use, it is important to shift the paradigm of how we approach cannabis use in adolescents. This article will focus on COVID-19's impact on cannabis use in adolescents and apply the transtheoretical model of change to promote safer choices while supporting adolescent autonomy. In addition, we will incorporate behavioral health strategies to reduce risks of cannabis use by equipping adolescents with guidelines, boundaries, and tools.

A Test of Interaction Effects Between Cannabis Protective Behavioral Strategies and Antecedents of Cannabis-Related Consequences

The purpose of the present study was to examine tests of interaction effects between cannabis protective behavioral strategies use and a range of risk/protective factors for negative cannabis-related consequences. We recruited 2,226 college students (M_age = 20.28, SD = 3.37; 68.8% female; 75.4% White) from 10 universities throughout the U.S. who reported using cannabis in the past month to complete an online survey. Measures assessed cannabis use, negative cannabis-related consequences, cannabis protective behavioral strategies use, and 35 risk/protective factors (including socio-demographic characteristics). Cannabis protective behavioral strategies use was negatively correlated with negative cannabis-related consequences while including the risk/protective factors as covariates. Most importantly, 33% and 54% of the interaction effects tested were statistically significant, depending on the covariates entered into the model. The interaction effects had a consistent pattern such that the positive association between greater risk and negative cannabis-related consequences was weaker as cannabis protective behavioral strategies use increased. Findings suggest that the nature of these interaction effects is not specific for any given risk/protective factor. We draw parallels to research on alcohol protective behavioral strategies and offer suggestions for moving the cannabis protective behavioral strategies field forward.

A comparison of cannabis protective behavioral strategies use across cultures and sex

BACKGROUND

Cannabis protective behavioral strategies (PBS) are behaviors used before, during, after, and/or instead of cannabis use to reduce consumption, intoxication, and related harms. To leverage PBS to address the global health burden of cannabis use, especially in light of the changes in cannabis-related policies around the world, a better understanding of PBS across cultures is needed. In the present study, we conduct a cross-cultural examination of cannabis PBS use among college students.

METHOD

Participants were 1175 college students (U.S. [n = 697], Argentina [n = 153], Uruguay [n = 46], Spain [n = 169], and the Netherlands [n = 66]) who reported past-month cannabis use (63.3% female; M_age = 20.96, SD = 3.95).

RESULTS

We found differences in the frequency of cannabis PBS use across countries such that the U.S. and Spain samples reported the most frequent cannabis PBS use and the Netherlands sample reported the least frequent cannabis PBS use. Although not statistically significant, we found that cannabis PBS use was positively correlated with cannabis-related outcomes (i.e., frequency, quantity, and negative consequences of cannabis use) among the Argentina and the Netherlands samples. Finally, across all countries but the Netherlands, females reported more frequent cannabis PBS use than males, but the associations of PBS with cannabis-related outcomes were larger for males than females.

CONCLUSIONS

Given preliminary evidence for cultural differences in cannabis PBS use, future research is needed to better understand the cultural factors underlying these differences to inform the delivery of interventions aimed at reducing the harms of cannabis among college students.

Enhancing gender and ethnic representativeness of NCHA-II data with survey weights: The examples of substance use prevalence and state marijuana legalization

We evaluated how applying post-stratification sampling weights to National College Health Assessment II (NCHA-II) data affects estimates of substance use prevalence and tests of medical and recreational marijuana legalization (MML and RML) effects. Participants/Methods: We constructed weights for Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 surveys (n = 90,503) using population information on U.S. undergraduates' gender and race/ethnicity and three institutional characteristics (region, city population, public/private). We estimated substance use prevalence (e.g., e-cigarettes, prescription opioid misuse) and compared 30-day marijuana use rates in states with RML, MML, or neither policy. Results: When unweighted versus weighted data were used, prevalence estimates did not differ appreciably; conclusions from logistic regressions were similar (weighted 30-day marijuana use rates among undergraduates in RML, MML, and non-ML states were 30.0%, 20.3%, and 16.3%, respectively) but effect sizes differed. Conclusions: The value of using weighted NCHA-II data depends on the analysis and the precision required for the research questions.

Cannabis Legalization and College Mental Health

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To assess how the changing landscape of marijuana use affects the developing brain and mental health of college students.

RECENT FINDINGS

Legalization of cannabis may facilitate use in the college population, with 38% of college students, whose brains are still maturing, regularly using marijuana products. Earlier and increased use, higher potency, pre-existing issues, and genetic predispositions increase negative outcomes by precipitating or worsening mental illness and ultimately impacting academic success. In the USA, the sharpest increase in cannabis users following legalization has been in the college age population (18-25 years of age). This population is especially vulnerable to the negative impacts and risks associated with cannabis use, including risk for the onset of major psychiatric illness. College mental health practitioners should remain informed about health effects of cannabis use, assess patient use on a regular basis, provide education and be familiar with interventions to reduce harm.