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London-Nadeau K, Lafortune C, Gorka C, Lemay-Gaulin M, Séguin J, Haines-Saah R, Ferlatte O, Chadi N, Juster RP, Bristowe S, D'Alessio H, Bernal L, Ellis-Durity K, Barbosa J, Da Costa De Carlos LAAC, Castellanos Ryan N. Beyond struggle: A strengths-based qualitative study of cannabis use among queer and trans youth in Québec. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2024:104512. [PMID: 38991874 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Queer and trans (QT) youth report higher rates of cannabis use than their cisgender and heterosexual peers. Explanations for this have overwhelmingly focused on the difficulties QT youth face, while little research has examined how cannabis use can relate to QT youth's strengths. We sought to explore how cannabis use could be involved in the experiences of QT youth from a strengths-based perspective. METHODS We conducted a QT youth-led, community-based study composed of 27 semi-structured interviews with QT young adults aged 21-25 years and living in Québec who use(d) cannabis regularly. Through reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2019), we used a strengths-based lens informed by the Minority Strengths Model (Perrin et al., 2020) to explore how cannabis use featured in participants' efforts to survive and thrive. RESULTS We generated three themes representing how cannabis featured in participants' efforts to survive and thrive. First, cannabis was used to facilitate the production of an authentic QT self, a process that involved self-discovery, introspection, exploration, awareness, and expression. Cannabis supported, accompanied, and/or complicated this process. Second, cannabis use (and non-use) was involved in building QT community and connection, which constituted a crux of participants' wellbeing. Third, cannabis was used to face adversity, such as marginalization, QT oppression, mental health challenges, and structural under-resourcing. This adversity contrasted experiences of QT identities themselves, which were described as a source of joy and pride. CONCLUSION Our analysis illustrates many ways in which cannabis use (and non-use) features in QT youth's efforts to survive and thrive. As a result, we encourage loved ones, clinicians, researchers and policy makers to adopt a view of QT cannabis use that is expansive and inclusive of QT youth's strengths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira London-Nadeau
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine, Montréal, QC, Canada.
| | | | - Catherine Gorka
- School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Mélodie Lemay-Gaulin
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Jean Séguin
- CHU Sainte-Justine, Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Rebecca Haines-Saah
- Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Olivier Ferlatte
- School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Nicholas Chadi
- CHU Sainte-Justine, Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Université de Montréal, Montréal QC, Canada
| | - Robert-Paul Juster
- Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Sean Bristowe
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | | | | | | | - João Barbosa
- Project VoxCann, Canada; Department of Political Science, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Natalie Castellanos Ryan
- CHU Sainte-Justine, Montréal, QC, Canada; School of Psychoeducation, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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Romm KF, Berg CJ. Patterns of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Problematic Health Outcomes Among US Young Adults: A Latent Class Analysis. SUBSTANCE USE & ADDICTION JOURNAL 2024; 45:191-200. [PMID: 38258814 DOI: 10.1177/29767342231218081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) predict problematic health outcomes (eg, substance use, mental health) among young adults; whether specific ACEs are differentially associated with specific substance use and mental health symptoms is understudied. METHODS Latent class analysis (LCA) identified classes of ACEs among 2209 US young adults (Mage = 24.69, range: 18-34; 57.4% female; 30.9% sexual minority; 35.8% racial/ethnic minority) in a 2-year study (2018-2020). Multivariable logistic regressions examined ACEs (reported in 2019) in relation to 2020 reports of current (past 30-day) substance use (ie, tobacco use; cannabis use and hazardous use; alcohol use and binge drinking) and mental health (ie, ≥moderate depression and anxiety symptoms), controlling for sociodemographics (ie, age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, education). RESULTS Overall, 65.4% reported ≥1 ACE (M = 2.09, SD = 2.30); 34.8%, 39.1%, and 71.1% current tobacco, cannabis, and alcohol use; 39.1% and 15.3% hazardous cannabis use and binge drinking; and 24.2% and 34.5% ≥moderate depression and anxiety symptoms, respectively. LCA yielded 4 classes: Low ACEs (referent; 55.6%), Poor family health and divorce (16.3%), Parental abuse (16.0%), and High ACEs (12.1%). High ACEs (vs Low ACEs) was associated with each adverse substance use and mental health outcome except alcohol use. Poor family health and divorce was associated with tobacco use, cannabis use, and both mental health outcomes. Parental abuse was associated with tobacco use, cannabis use, hazardous cannabis use, and both mental health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Health promotion interventions for young adults must assess ACEs, given that certain types of ACEs may be associated with distinct substance use and mental health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katelyn F Romm
- TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Carla J Berg
- Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- George Washington Cancer Center, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
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