1
|
Wallez S, Kousignian I, Hecker I, Rezag Bara SF, Andersen AJ, Melchior M, Cadwallader JS, Mary-Krause M. Factors associated with the use of cannabis for self-medication by adults: data from the French TEMPO cohort study. J Cannabis Res 2024; 6:19. [PMID: 38600591 PMCID: PMC11005193 DOI: 10.1186/s42238-024-00230-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medical cannabis, legalized in many countries, remains illegal in France. Despite an experiment in the medical use of cannabis that began in March 2021 in France, little is known about the factors associated with the use of cannabis for self-medication among adults. METHODS Data came from the French TEMPO cohort and were collected between December 2020 and May 2021. Overall, 345 participants aged 27-47 were included. Cannabis for self-medication was defined using the following questions: 'Why do you use cannabis?' and 'In what form do you use cannabis?'. The penalized regression method "Elastic net" was used to determine factors associated with the use of cannabis for self-medication, with the hypothesis that it is mainly used for pain in individuals who have already used cannabis. RESULTS More than half of the participants reported having ever used cannabis (58%). Only 10% used it for self-declared medical reasons (n = 36). All self-medication cannabis users, except one, were also using cannabis for recreational purposes. The main factors associated with cannabis use for self-medication vs. other reasons included cannabis use trajectories, the presence of musculoskeletal disorders, tobacco smoking, and parental divorce. CONCLUSIONS Engaging in cannabis use during adolescence or early adulthood may increase the likelihood of resorting to self-medication in adulthood. Due to the propensity of individuals with cannabis use during adolescence to resort to uncontrolled products for self-medication, this population should be more systematically targeted and screened for symptoms and comorbidities that may be associated with cannabis use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Solène Wallez
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, IPLESP, Equipe de Recherche en Epidémiologie Sociale, ERES, Paris, 75012, France
| | - Isabelle Kousignian
- Université Paris Cité, Unité de Recherche « Biostatistique, Traitement Et Modélisation Des Données Biologiques » BioSTM - UR 7537, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Irwin Hecker
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, IPLESP, Equipe de Recherche en Epidémiologie Sociale, ERES, Paris, 75012, France
| | - Selma Faten Rezag Bara
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, IPLESP, Equipe de Recherche en Epidémiologie Sociale, ERES, Paris, 75012, France
| | - Astrid Juhl Andersen
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, IPLESP, Equipe de Recherche en Epidémiologie Sociale, ERES, Paris, 75012, France
| | - Maria Melchior
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, IPLESP, Equipe de Recherche en Epidémiologie Sociale, ERES, Paris, 75012, France
| | - Jean-Sébastien Cadwallader
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, IPLESP, Equipe de Recherche en Epidémiologie Sociale, ERES, Paris, 75012, France
- Sorbonne Université, Faculté de Médecine Saint-Antoine, Département de Médecine Générale, Paris, 75012, France
| | - Murielle Mary-Krause
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, IPLESP, Equipe de Recherche en Epidémiologie Sociale, ERES, Paris, 75012, France.
- Sorbonne Université - Faculté de Médecine, Site Saint-Antoine, UMR-S 1136 - N° BC 2908, Équipe Cohorte TEMPO, 27 Rue Chaligny, 75012, Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zaman T, Bravata DM, Byers A, Krebs E, Leonard S, Austin C, Sandbrink F, Hasin DS, Keyhani S. A national study of clinical discussions about cannabis use among Veteran patients prescribed opioids. J Cannabis Res 2024; 6:12. [PMID: 38493111 PMCID: PMC10943860 DOI: 10.1186/s42238-024-00221-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Veterans Health Administration tracks urine drug tests (UDTs) among patients on long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) and recommends discussing the health effects of cannabis use. OBJECTIVE To determine the occurrence of cannabis-related discussions between providers and patients on LTOT during six months following UDT positive for cannabis, and examine factors associated with documenting cannabis use. DESIGN We identified patients prescribed LTOT with a UDT positive for cannabis in 2019. We developed a text-processing tool to extract discussions around cannabis use from their charts. SUBJECTS Twelve thousand seventy patients were included. Chart review was conducted on a random sample of 1,946 patients. MAIN MEASURES The presence of a cannabis term in the chart suggesting documented cannabis use or cannabis-related discussions. Content of those discussions was extracted in a subset of patients. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between patient factors, including state of residence legal status, with documentation of cannabis use. KEY RESULTS Among the 12,070 patients, 65.8% (N = 7,948) had a cannabis term, whereas 34.1% (N = 4,122) of patients lacked a cannabis term, suggesting that no documentation of cannabis use or discussion between provider and patient took place. Among the subset of patients who had a discussion documented, 47% related to cannabis use for medical reasons, 35% related to a discussion of VA policy or legal issues, and 17% related to a discussion specific to medical risks or harm reduction strategies. In adjusted analyses, residents of states with legalized recreational cannabis were less likely to have any cannabis-related discussion compared to patients in non-legal states [OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.64-0.82]. CONCLUSIONS One-third of LTOT patients did not have documentation of cannabis use in the chart in the 6 months following a positive UDT for cannabis. Discussions related to the medical risks of cannabis use or harm reduction strategies were uncommon.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tauheed Zaman
- Addiction Recovery and Treatments Services, San Francisco VA Health Care System, 4150 Clement Street, #116F, San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, 94121, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Dawn M Bravata
- Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Departments of Medicine and Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Amy Byers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Medical Service, San Francisco VA Health Care System, San Francisco, USA
| | - Erin Krebs
- Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Samuel Leonard
- Medical Service, San Francisco VA Health Care System, San Francisco, USA
| | - Charles Austin
- Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Friedhelm Sandbrink
- National Pain Management, Opioid Safety and Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Neurology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Deborah S Hasin
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Salomeh Keyhani
- Medical Service, San Francisco VA Health Care System, San Francisco, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Medical Service, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hayaki J, Abrantes AM, Anderson B, Stein MD. Chronic Pain and Cannabis Use Frequency, Intensity, and Severity in Young Adults. Subst Use Misuse 2024; 59:576-582. [PMID: 38017655 PMCID: PMC10922830 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2023.2287240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cannabis use is common among young adults and is associated with many physical and mental health problems. Persons with chronic pain may be particularly susceptible to using cannabis at high rates, including for analgesic purposes, thus exposing themselves to greater risk of cannabis-related problems. However, little research has examined connections between chronic pain and cannabis use in the young adult population. MATERIALS AND METHODS Participants were young adults from the community who were recruited for a larger health behaviors study. The present sample included 403 persons from this larger sample who reported cannabis use in the past 90 days. Participants completed measures of demographic characteristics, cannabis and alcohol use, and chronic pain. RESULTS This young adult sample reported using cannabis on an average of 47.1 of the past 90 days, and 20.1% reported chronic pain. Chronic pain was associated with greater cannabis use frequency (IRR = 1.35, 95%CI 1.15; 1.57, p < 0.001), intensity (IRR = 1.61, 95%CI 1.18; 2.21, p = 0.003), and negative consequences (IRR = 1.23, 95%CI 1.02; 1.48, p < 0.030). DISCUSSION In this sample of young adults who use cannabis, chronic pain was significantly associated with frequent, intense cannabis use, as well as more cannabis-related negative consequences. These findings suggest that chronic pain may be a marker for a particularly high-risk pattern of cannabis use in this age group, thus identifying an especially vulnerable subset of young adults who may require heightened research and clinical attention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jumi Hayaki
- Department of Psychology, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Ana M. Abrantes
- Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Behavioral Medicine and Addiction Research Unit, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Bradley Anderson
- Behavioral Medicine and Addiction Research Unit, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Michael D. Stein
- Department of Health Law, Policy & Management, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hasin DS, Wall MM, Alschuler DM, Mannes ZL, Malte C, Olfson M, Keyes KM, Gradus JL, Cerdá M, Maynard CC, Keyhani S, Martins SS, Fink DS, Livne O, McDowell Y, Sherman S, Saxon AJ. Chronic pain, cannabis legalisation, and cannabis use disorder among patients in the US Veterans Health Administration system, 2005 to 2019: a repeated, cross-sectional study. Lancet Psychiatry 2023; 10:877-886. [PMID: 37837985 PMCID: PMC10627060 DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(23)00268-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cannabis use disorder is associated with considerable comorbidity and impairment in functioning, and prevalence is increasing among adults with chronic pain. We aimed to assess the effect of introduction of medical cannabis laws (MCL) and recreational cannabis laws (RCL) on the increase in cannabis use disorder among patients in the US Veterans Health Administration (VHA). METHODS Data from patients with one or more primary care, emergency, or mental health visit to the VHA in 2005-19 were analysed using 15 repeated cross-sectional VHA electronic health record datasets (ie, one dataset per year). Patients in hospice or palliative care were excluded. Patients were stratified as having chronic pain or not using an American Pain Society taxonomy of painful medical conditions. We used staggered-adoption difference-in-difference analyses to estimate the role of MCL and RCL enactment in the increases in prevalence of diagnosed cannabis use disorder and associations with presence of chronic pain, accounting for the year that state laws were enacted. We did this by fitting a linear binomial regression model stratified by pain, with time-varying cannabis law status, fixed effects for state, categorical year, time-varying state-level sociodemographic covariates, and patient covariates (age group [18-34 years, 35-64 years, and 65-75 years], sex, and race and ethnicity). FINDINGS Between 2005 and 2019, 3 234 382-4 579 994 patients were included per year. Among patients without pain in 2005, 5·1% were female, mean age was 58·3 (SD 12·6) years, and 75·7%, 15·6%, and 3·6% were White, Black, and Hispanic or Latino, respectively. In 2019, 9·3% were female, mean age was 56·7 (SD 15·2) years, and 68·1%, 18·2%, and 6·5% were White, Black, and Hispanic or Latino, respectively. Among patients with pain in 2005, 7·1% were female, mean age was 57·2 (SD 11·4) years, and 74·0%, 17·8%, and 3·9% were White, Black, and Hispanic or Latino, respectively. In 2019, 12·4% were female, mean age was 57·2 (SD 13·8) years, and 65·3%, 21·9%, and 7·0% were White, Black, and Hispanic or Latino, respectively. Among patients with chronic pain, enacting MCL led to a 0·135% (95% CI 0·118-0·153) absolute increase in cannabis use disorder prevalence, with 8·4% of the total increase in MCL-enacting states attributable to MCL. Enacting RCL led to a 0·188% (0·160-0·217) absolute increase in cannabis use disorder prevalence, with 11·5% of the total increase in RCL-enacting states attributable to RCL. In patients without chronic pain, enacting MCL and RCL led to smaller absolute increases in cannabis use disorder prevalence (MCL: 0·037% [0·027-0·048], 5·7% attributable to MCL; RCL: 0·042% [0·023-0·060], 6·0% attributable to RCL). Overall, associations of MCL and RCL with cannabis use disorder were greater in patients with chronic pain than in patients without chronic pain. INTERPRETATION Increasing cannabis use disorder prevalence among patients with chronic pain following state legalisation is a public health concern, especially among older age groups. Given cannabis commercialisation and widespread public beliefs about its efficacy, clinical monitoring of cannabis use and discussion of the risk of cannabis use disorder among patients with chronic pain is warranted. FUNDING NIDA grant R01DA048860, New York State Psychiatric Institute, and the VA Centers of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah S Hasin
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Melanie M Wall
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Carol Malte
- Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Seattle Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA; Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mark Olfson
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Katherine M Keyes
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Charles C Maynard
- Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Seattle Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA; University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Salomeh Keyhani
- San Francisco VA Health System, San Francisco, CA, USA; University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Silvia S Martins
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - David S Fink
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ofir Livne
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yoanna McDowell
- Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Scott Sherman
- New York University, New York, NY, USA; VA Manhattan Harbor Healthcare, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew J Saxon
- Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Seattle Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA; Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA; University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zajacova A, Pereira Filho A, Limani M, Grol-Prokopczyk H, Zimmer Z, Scherbakov D, Fillingim RB, Hayward MD, Gilron I, Macfarlane GJ. Self-Reported Pain Treatment Practices Among U.S. and Canadian Adults: Findings From a Population Survey. Innov Aging 2023; 7:igad103. [PMID: 38094928 PMCID: PMC10714903 DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igad103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives Pain treatments and their efficacy have been studied extensively. Yet surprisingly little is known about the types of treatments, and combinations of treatments, that community-dwelling adults use to manage pain, as well as how treatment types are associated with individual characteristics and national-level context. To fill this gap, we evaluated self-reported pain treatment types among community-dwelling adults in the United States and Canada. We also assessed how treatment types correlate with individuals' pain levels, sociodemographic characteristics, and country of residence, and identified unique clusters of adults in terms of treatment combinations. Research Design and Methods We used the 2020 "Recovery and Resilience" United States-Canada general online survey with 2 041 U.S. and 2 072 Canadian community-dwelling adults. Respondents selected up to 10 pain treatment options including medication, physical therapy, exercise, etc., and an open-ended item was available for self-report of any additional treatments. Data were analyzed using descriptive, regression-based, and latent class analyses. Results Over-the-counter (OTC) medication was reported most frequently (by 55% of respondents, 95% CI 53%-56%), followed by "just living with pain" (41%, 95% CI 40%-43%) and exercise (40%, 95% CI 38%-41%). The modal response (29%) to the open-ended item was cannabis use. Pain was the most salient correlate, predicting a greater frequency of all pain treatments. Country differences were generally small; a notable exception was alcohol use, which was reported twice as often among U.S. versus Canadian adults. Individuals were grouped into 5 distinct clusters: 2 groups relied predominantly on medication (prescription or OTC), another favored exercise and other self-care approaches, one included adults "just living with" pain, and the cluster with the highest pain levels employed all modalities heavily. Discussion and Implications Our findings provide new insights into recent pain treatment strategies among North American adults and identify population subgroups with potentially unmet need for more adaptive and effective pain management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Zajacova
- Department of Sociology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alvaro Pereira Filho
- Department of Political Science, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Merita Limani
- Department of Sociology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hanna Grol-Prokopczyk
- Department of Sociology, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Zachary Zimmer
- Department of Family Studies and Gerontology, Global Aging and Community Initiative, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Dmitry Scherbakov
- Integrative Pain Laboratory, School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Roger B Fillingim
- Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Mark D Hayward
- Department of Sociology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Ian Gilron
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gary J Macfarlane
- Department of Epidemiology, Aberdeen Centre for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hasin DS, Wall MM, Alschuler D, Mannes ZL, Malte C, Olfson M, Keyes KM, Gradus JL, Cerdá M, Maynard CC, Keyhani S, Martins SS, Fink DS, Livne O, McDowell Y, Sherman S, Saxon AJ. Chronic Pain, Cannabis Legalization and Cannabis Use Disorder in Veterans Health Administration Patients, 2005 to 2019. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.07.10.23292453. [PMID: 37503049 PMCID: PMC10370240 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.10.23292453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Background The risk for cannabis use disorder (CUD) is elevated among U.S. adults with chronic pain, and CUD rates are disproportionately increasing in this group. Little is known about the role of medical cannabis laws (MCL) and recreational cannabis laws (RCL) in these increases. Among U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patients, we examined whether MCL and RCL effects on CUD prevalence differed between patients with and without chronic pain. Methods Patients with ≥1 primary care, emergency, or mental health visit to the VHA and no hospice/palliative care within a given calendar year, 2005-2019 (yearly n=3,234,382 to 4,579,994) were analyzed using VHA electronic health record (EHR) data. To estimate the role of MCL and RCL enactment in the increases in prevalence of diagnosed CUD and whether this differed between patients with and without chronic pain, staggered-adoption difference-in-difference analyses were used, fitting a linear binomial regression model with fixed effects for state, categorical year, time-varying cannabis law status, state-level sociodemographic covariates, a chronic pain indicator, and patient covariates (age group [18-34, 35-64; 65-75], sex, and race and ethnicity). Pain was categorized using an American Pain Society taxonomy of painful medical conditions. Outcomes In patients with chronic pain, enacting MCL led to a 0·14% (95% CI=0·12%-0·15%) absolute increase in CUD prevalence, with 8·4% of the total increase in CUD prevalence in MCL-enacting states attributable to MCL. Enacting RCL led to a 0·19% (95%CI: 0·16%, 0·22%) absolute increase in CUD prevalence, with 11·5% of the total increase in CUD prevalence in RCL-enacting states attributable to RCL. In patients without chronic pain, enacting MCL and RCL led to smaller absolute increases in CUD prevalence (MCL: 0·037% [95%CI: 0·03, 0·05]; RCL: 0·042% [95%CI: 0·02, 0·06]), with 5·7% and 6·0% of the increases in CUD prevalence attributable to MCL and RCL. Overall, MCL and RCL effects were significantly greater in patients with than without chronic pain. By age, MCL and RCL effects were negligible in patients age 18-34 with and without pain. In patients age 35-64 with and without pain, MCL and RCL effects were significant (p<0.001) but small. In patients age 65-75 with pain, absolute increases were 0·10% in MCL-only states and 0·22% in MCL/RCL states, with 9·3% of the increase in CUD prevalence in MCL-only states attributable to MCL, and 19.4% of the increase in RCL states attributable to RCL. In patients age 35-64 and 65-75, MCL and RCL effects were significantly greater in patients with pain. Interpretation In patients age 35-75, the role of MCL and RCL in the increasing prevalence of CUD was greater in patients with chronic pain than in those without chronic pain, with particularly pronounced effects in patients with chronic pain age 65-75. Although the VHA offers extensive behavioral and non-opioid pharmaceutical treatments for pain, cannabis may seem a more appealing option given media enthusiasm about cannabis, cannabis commercialization activities, and widespread public beliefs about cannabis efficacy. Cannabis does not have the risk/mortality profile of opioids, but CUD is a clinical condition with considerable impairment and comorbidity. Because cannabis legalization in the U.S. is likely to further increase, increasing CUD prevalence among patients with chronic pain following state legalization is a public health concern. The risk of chronic pain increases as individuals age, and the average age of VHA patients and the U.S. general population is increasing. Therefore, clinical monitoring of cannabis use and discussion of the risk of CUD among patients with chronic pain is warranted, especially among older patients. Research in Context Evidence before this study: Only three studies have examined the role of state medical cannabis laws (MCL) and/or recreational cannabis laws (RCL) in the increasing prevalence of cannabis use disorder (CUD) in U.S. adults, finding significant MCL and RCL effects but with modest effect sizes. Effects of MCL and RCL may vary across important subgroups of the population, including individuals with chronic pain. PubMed was searched by DH for publications on U.S. time trends in cannabis legalization, cannabis use disorders (CUD) and pain from database inception until March 15, 2023, without language restrictions. The following search terms were used: (medical cannabis laws) AND (pain) AND (cannabis use disorder); (recreational cannabis laws) AND (pain) AND (cannabis use disorder); (cannabis laws) AND (pain) AND (cannabis use disorder). Only one study was found that had CUD as an outcome, and this study used cross-sectional data from a single year, which cannot be used to determine trends over time. Therefore, evidence has been lacking on whether the role of state medical and recreational cannabis legalization in the increasing US adult prevalence of CUD differed by chronic pain status.Added value of this study: To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine whether the effects of state MCL and RCL on the nationally increasing U.S. rates of adult cannabis use disorder differ by whether individuals experience chronic pain or not. Using electronic medical record data from patients in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) that included extensive information on medical conditions associated with chronic pain, the study showed that the effects of MCL and RCL on the prevalence of CUD were stronger among individuals with chronic pain age 35-64 and 65-75, an effect that was particularly pronounced in older patients ages 65-75.Implications of all the available evidence: MCL and RCL are likely to influence the prevalence of CUD through commercialization that increases availability and portrays cannabis use as 'normal' and safe, thereby decreasing perception of cannabis risk. In patients with pain, the overall U.S. decline in prescribed opioids may also have contributed to MCL and RCL effects, leading to substitution of cannabis use that expanded the pool of individuals vulnerable to CUD. The VHA offers extensive non-opioid pain programs. However, positive media reports on cannabis, positive online "information" that can sometimes be misleading, and increasing popular beliefs that cannabis is a useful prevention and treatment agent may make cannabis seem preferable to the evidence-based treatments that the VHA offers, and also as an easily accessible option among those not connected to a healthcare system, who may face more barriers than VHA patients in accessing non-opioid pain management. When developing cannabis legislation, unintended consequences should be considered, including increased risk of CUD in large vulnerable subgroups of the population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah S Hasin
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 W 168th St, New York, NY 10032, USA
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Melanie M Wall
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Dan Alschuler
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Zachary L Mannes
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Carol Malte
- Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Seattle Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 S Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
- Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 S Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
| | - Mark Olfson
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Katherine M Keyes
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 W 168th St, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Jaimie L Gradus
- Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Magdalena Cerdá
- New York University, 50 West 4th Street, New York, NY 10012, USA
| | - Charles C Maynard
- Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Seattle Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 S Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
- University of Washington, 1400 Ne Campus Parkway, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Salomeh Keyhani
- San Francisco VA Health System, 4150 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA
- University of California at San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Silvia S Martins
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 W 168th St, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - David S Fink
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Ofir Livne
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Yoanna McDowell
- Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 S Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
| | - Scott Sherman
- New York University, 50 West 4th Street, New York, NY 10012, USA
- VA Manhattan Harbor Healthcare, 423 E 23rd St, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Andrew J Saxon
- Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Seattle Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 S Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
- Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 S Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
- University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bialas P, Böttge-Wolpers C, Fitzcharles MA, Gottschling S, Konietzke D, Juckenhöfel S, Madlinger A, Welsch P, Häuser W. Cannabis use disorder in patients with chronic pain: overestimation and underestimation in a cross-sectional observational study in 3 German pain management centres. Pain 2023; 164:1303-1311. [PMID: 36327134 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT There are concerns that cannabis use disorder (CUD) may develop in patients with chronic pain prescribed medical cannabis (MC). The criteria for CUD according to the Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders Version 5 (DSM-5) were not developed for the identification of patients using cannabis for therapeutic reasons. In addition, some items of CUD might be attributed to the desire of the patient to relieve the pain. Therefore, alternative strategies are needed to identify the true prevalence of CUD in persons with chronic pain being treated with MC. The prevalence of CUD in patients with chronic pain according to the DSM-5 criteria was assessed using an anonymous questionnaire in 187 consecutive patients attending 3 German pain centres in 2021. Questionnaires were rated as follows: (1) all criteria included, (2) removal of items addressing tolerance and withdrawal, and (3) removal of positive items if associated with the desire to relieve pain. Abuse was assessed by self-report (use of illegal drugs and diversion and illegal acquisition of MC) and urine tests for illegal drugs. Physicians recorded any observation of abuse. Cannabis use disorder according to the DSM-5 criteria was present in 29.9%, in 13.9% when items of tolerance and withdrawal were removed, and in 2.1% when positive behaviour items were removed. In 10.7%, at least 1 signal of abuse was noted. Urine tests were positive for nonprescribed drugs (amphetamines and tranquilizer) in 4.8% of subjects. Physicians identified abuse in 1 patient. In this study, the DSM-5 criteria overestimated and physicians underestimated the prevalence of CUD in patients prescribed MC for chronic pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patric Bialas
- Medical Practice for Pain Medicine Saarlouis, Saarlouis, Germany
- Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany
| | | | - Mary-Ann Fitzcharles
- Alan Edwards Pain Management Unit, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Division of Rheumatology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sven Gottschling
- Centre of Palliative Care and Pediatric Pain, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany
| | - Dieter Konietzke
- Center for Pain Medicine and Mental Health Saarbrücken, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | | | - Albrecht Madlinger
- Center for Pain Medicine and Mental Health Saarbrücken, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Patrick Welsch
- Center for Pain Medicine and Mental Health Saarbrücken, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Winfried Häuser
- Center for Pain Medicine and Mental Health Saarbrücken, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Department Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität München, München, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Hasin DS, Wall MM, Choi CJ, Alschuler DM, Malte C, Olfson M, Keyes KM, Gradus JL, Cerdá M, Maynard CC, Keyhani S, Martins SS, Fink DS, Livne O, Mannes Z, Sherman S, Saxon AJ. State Cannabis Legalization and Cannabis Use Disorder in the US Veterans Health Administration, 2005 to 2019. JAMA Psychiatry 2023; 80:380-388. [PMID: 36857036 PMCID: PMC9979011 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.0019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Importance Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is increasing among US adults. Few national studies have addressed the role of medical cannabis laws (MCLs) and recreational cannabis laws (RCLs) in these increases, particularly in patient populations with high rates of CUD risk factors. Objective To quantify the role of MCL and RCL enactment in the increases in diagnosed CUD prevalence among Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patients from 2005 to 2019. Design, Setting, and Participants Staggered-adoption difference-in-difference analyses were used to estimate the role of MCL and RCL in the increases in prevalence of CUD diagnoses, fitting a linear binomial regression model with fixed effects for state, categorical year, time-varying cannabis law status, state-level sociodemographic covariates, and patient age group, sex, and race and ethnicity. Patients aged 18 to 75 years with 1 or more VHA primary care, emergency department, or mental health visit and no hospice/palliative care within a given calendar year were included. Time-varying yearly state control covariates were state/year rates from American Community Survey data: percentage male, Black, Hispanic, White, 18 years or older, unemployed, income below poverty threshold, and yearly median household income. Analysis took place between February to December 2022. Main Outcomes and Measures As preplanned, International Classification of Diseases, Clinical Modification, ninth and tenth revisions, CUD diagnoses from electronic health records were analyzed. Results The number of individuals analyzed ranged from 3 234 382 in 2005 to 4 579 994 in 2019. Patients were largely male (94.1% in 2005 and 89.0% in 2019) and White (75.0% in 2005 and 66.6% in 2019), with a mean (SD) age of 57.0 [14.4] years. From 2005 to 2019, adjusted CUD prevalences increased from 1.38% to 2.25% in states with no cannabis laws (no CLs), 1.38% to 2.54% in MCL-only enacting states, and 1.39% to 2.56% in RCL-enacting states. Difference-in-difference results indicated that MCL-only enactment was associated with a 0.05% (0.05-0.06) absolute increase in CUD prevalence, ie, that 4.7% of the total increase in CUD prevalence in MCL-only enacting states could be attributed to MCLs, while RCL enactment was associated with a 1.12% (95% CI, 0.10-0.13) absolute increase in CUD prevalence, ie, that 9.8% of the total increase in CUD prevalence in RCL-enacting states could be attributed to RCLs. The role of RCL in the increases in CUD prevalence was greatest in patients aged 65 to 75 years, with an absolute increase of 0.15% (95% CI, 0.13-0.17) in CUD prevalence associated with RCLs, ie, 18.6% of the total increase in CUD prevalence in that age group. Conclusions and Relevance In this study of VHA patients, MCL and RCL enactment played a significant role in the overall increases in CUD prevalence, particularly in older patients. However, consistent with general population studies, effect sizes were relatively small, suggesting that cumulatively, laws affected cannabis attitudes diffusely across the country or that other factors played a larger role in the overall increases in adult CUD. Results underscore the need to screen for cannabis use and CUD and to treat CUD when it is present.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah S. Hasin
- Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York
| | - Melanie M. Wall
- Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York
| | - C. Jean Choi
- Mental Health Data Science, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York
| | | | - Carol Malte
- Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Seattle Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington
- Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington
| | - Mark Olfson
- Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York
| | | | | | | | - Charles C. Maynard
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System and University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Salomeh Keyhani
- San Francisco VA Health System and University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco
| | | | | | | | | | - Scott Sherman
- VA Manhattan Harbor Healthcare and New York University, New York
| | - Andrew J. Saxon
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System and University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Davis MP, Case AA, Cyr C. Do We Have Structure, Process and Outcomes to Support Cannabis as Supportive Therapy in Cancer? Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2023; 40:341-350. [PMID: 35532011 DOI: 10.1177/10499091221101561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabis is becoming more popular and more available in the United States. It has been approved for use by multiple states for various conditions and several states now allow recreational cannabis. We explore the structure of cannabis distribution, the process of acquisition, outcomes, and the safety of cannabis in the United States.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mellar P Davis
- 2780Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Danville, PA, USA
| | - Amy A Case
- Department of Medicine, Department of Supportive and Palliative Care, 2074Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Claude Cyr
- Supportive and Palliative Care Division, 12367McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Cannabis Legalization and the Decline of Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) Treatment Utilization in the US. CURRENT ADDICTION REPORTS 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s40429-022-00461-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
|
11
|
Hasin DS, Saxon AJ, Malte C, Olfson M, Keyes KM, Gradus JL, Cerdá M, Maynard CC, Keyhani S, Martins SS, Fink DS, Livne O, Mannes Z, Wall MM. Trends in Cannabis Use Disorder Diagnoses in the U.S. Veterans Health Administration, 2005-2019. Am J Psychiatry 2022; 179:748-757. [PMID: 35899381 PMCID: PMC9529770 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.22010034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In the United States, adult cannabis use has increased over time, but less information is available on time trends in cannabis use disorder. The authors used Veterans Health Administration (VHA) data to examine change over time in cannabis use disorder diagnoses among veterans, an important population subgroup, and whether such trends differ by age group (<35 years, 35-64 years, ≥65 years), sex, or race/ethnicity. METHODS VHA electronic health records from 2005 to 2019 (range of Ns per year, 4,403,027-5,797,240) were used to identify the percentage of VHA patients seen each year with a cannabis use disorder diagnosis (ICD-9-CM, January 1, 2005-September 30, 2015; ICD-10-CM, October 1, 2015-December 31, 2019). Trends in cannabis use disorder diagnoses were examined by age and by race/ethnicity and sex within age groups. Given the transition in ICD coding, differences in trends were tested within two periods: 2005-2014 (ICD-9-CM) and 2016-2019 (ICD-10-CM). RESULTS In 2005, the percentages of VHA patients diagnosed with cannabis use disorder in the <35, 35-64, and ≥65 year age groups were 1.70%, 1.59%, and 0.03%, respectively; by 2019, the percentages had increased to 4.84%, 2.86%, and 0.74%, respectively. Although the prevalence of cannabis use disorder was consistently higher among males than females, between 2016 and 2019, the prevalence increased more among females than males in the <35 year group. Black patients had a consistently higher prevalence of cannabis use disorder than other racial/ethnic groups, and increases were greater among Black than White patients in the <35 year group in both periods. CONCLUSIONS Since 2005, diagnoses of cannabis use disorder have increased substantially among VHA patients, as they have in the general population and other patient populations. Possible explanations warranting investigation include decreasing perception of risk, changing laws, increasing cannabis potency, stressors related to growing socioeconomic inequality, and use of cannabis to self-treat pain. Clinicians and the public should be educated about the increases in cannabis use disorder in general in the United States, including among patients treated at the VHA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew J. Saxon
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System and University of Washington
| | | | - Mark Olfson
- Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute
| | | | | | | | | | - Salomeh Keyhani
- San Francisco VA Health System and University of California at San Francisco
| | | | | | | | | | - Melanie M. Wall
- Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Hasin DS, Shmulewitz D, Stohl M, Greenstein E, Aharonovich E, Petronis KR, Von Korff M, Datta S, Sonty N, Ross S, Inturrisi C, Weinberger ML, Scodes J, Wall MM. Diagnosing Prescription Opioid Use Disorder in Patients Using Prescribed Opioids for Chronic Pain. Am J Psychiatry 2022; 179:715-725. [PMID: 35702830 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.21070721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The diagnostic criteria for opioid use disorder, originally developed for heroin, did not anticipate the surge in prescription opioid use and the resulting complexities in diagnosing prescription opioid use disorder (POUD), including differentiation of pain relief (therapeutic intent) from more common drug use motives, such as to get high or to cope with negative affect. The authors examined the validity of the Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders, DSM-5 opioid version, an instrument designed to make this differentiation. METHODS Patients (N=606) from pain clinics and inpatient substance treatment who ever received a ≥30-day opioid prescription for chronic pain were evaluated for DSM-5 POUD (i.e., withdrawal and tolerance were not considered positive if patients used opioids only as prescribed, per DSM-5 guidelines) and pain-adjusted POUD (behavioral/subjective criteria were not considered positive if pain relief [therapeutic intent] was the sole motive). Bivariate correlated-outcome regression models indicated associations of 10 validators with DSM-5 and pain-adjusted POUD measures, using mean ratios for dimensional measures and odds ratios for binary measures. RESULTS The prevalences of DSM-5 and pain-adjusted POUD, respectively, were 44.4% and 30.4% at the ≥2-criteria threshold and 29.5% and 25.3% at the ≥4-criteria threshold. Pain adjustment had little effect on prevalence among substance treatment patients but resulted in substantially lower prevalence among pain treatment patients. All validators had significantly stronger associations with pain-adjusted than with DSM-5 dimensional POUD measures (ratios of mean ratios, 1.22-2.31). For most validators, pain-adjusted binary POUD had larger odds ratios than DSM-5 measures. CONCLUSIONS Adapting POUD measures for pain relief (therapeutic intent) improved validity. Studies should investigate the clinical utility of differentiating between therapeutic and nontherapeutic intent in evaluating POUD diagnostic criteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah S Hasin
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall) and New York State Psychiatric Institute (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Stohl, Greenstein, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall), New York; Epidemiology, Pfizer, Inc., New York (Petronis); Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle (Von Korff); Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers University, Newark, N.J. (Datta); Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York (Sonty, Weinberger); Department of Psychiatry, New York University, New York (Ross); Cornell University Medical College, New York (Inturrisi)
| | - Dvora Shmulewitz
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall) and New York State Psychiatric Institute (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Stohl, Greenstein, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall), New York; Epidemiology, Pfizer, Inc., New York (Petronis); Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle (Von Korff); Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers University, Newark, N.J. (Datta); Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York (Sonty, Weinberger); Department of Psychiatry, New York University, New York (Ross); Cornell University Medical College, New York (Inturrisi)
| | - Malka Stohl
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall) and New York State Psychiatric Institute (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Stohl, Greenstein, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall), New York; Epidemiology, Pfizer, Inc., New York (Petronis); Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle (Von Korff); Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers University, Newark, N.J. (Datta); Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York (Sonty, Weinberger); Department of Psychiatry, New York University, New York (Ross); Cornell University Medical College, New York (Inturrisi)
| | - Eliana Greenstein
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall) and New York State Psychiatric Institute (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Stohl, Greenstein, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall), New York; Epidemiology, Pfizer, Inc., New York (Petronis); Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle (Von Korff); Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers University, Newark, N.J. (Datta); Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York (Sonty, Weinberger); Department of Psychiatry, New York University, New York (Ross); Cornell University Medical College, New York (Inturrisi)
| | - Efrat Aharonovich
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall) and New York State Psychiatric Institute (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Stohl, Greenstein, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall), New York; Epidemiology, Pfizer, Inc., New York (Petronis); Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle (Von Korff); Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers University, Newark, N.J. (Datta); Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York (Sonty, Weinberger); Department of Psychiatry, New York University, New York (Ross); Cornell University Medical College, New York (Inturrisi)
| | - Kenneth R Petronis
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall) and New York State Psychiatric Institute (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Stohl, Greenstein, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall), New York; Epidemiology, Pfizer, Inc., New York (Petronis); Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle (Von Korff); Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers University, Newark, N.J. (Datta); Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York (Sonty, Weinberger); Department of Psychiatry, New York University, New York (Ross); Cornell University Medical College, New York (Inturrisi)
| | - Michael Von Korff
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall) and New York State Psychiatric Institute (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Stohl, Greenstein, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall), New York; Epidemiology, Pfizer, Inc., New York (Petronis); Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle (Von Korff); Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers University, Newark, N.J. (Datta); Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York (Sonty, Weinberger); Department of Psychiatry, New York University, New York (Ross); Cornell University Medical College, New York (Inturrisi)
| | - Samyadev Datta
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall) and New York State Psychiatric Institute (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Stohl, Greenstein, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall), New York; Epidemiology, Pfizer, Inc., New York (Petronis); Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle (Von Korff); Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers University, Newark, N.J. (Datta); Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York (Sonty, Weinberger); Department of Psychiatry, New York University, New York (Ross); Cornell University Medical College, New York (Inturrisi)
| | - Nomita Sonty
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall) and New York State Psychiatric Institute (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Stohl, Greenstein, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall), New York; Epidemiology, Pfizer, Inc., New York (Petronis); Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle (Von Korff); Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers University, Newark, N.J. (Datta); Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York (Sonty, Weinberger); Department of Psychiatry, New York University, New York (Ross); Cornell University Medical College, New York (Inturrisi)
| | - Stephen Ross
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall) and New York State Psychiatric Institute (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Stohl, Greenstein, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall), New York; Epidemiology, Pfizer, Inc., New York (Petronis); Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle (Von Korff); Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers University, Newark, N.J. (Datta); Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York (Sonty, Weinberger); Department of Psychiatry, New York University, New York (Ross); Cornell University Medical College, New York (Inturrisi)
| | - Charles Inturrisi
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall) and New York State Psychiatric Institute (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Stohl, Greenstein, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall), New York; Epidemiology, Pfizer, Inc., New York (Petronis); Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle (Von Korff); Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers University, Newark, N.J. (Datta); Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York (Sonty, Weinberger); Department of Psychiatry, New York University, New York (Ross); Cornell University Medical College, New York (Inturrisi)
| | - Michael L Weinberger
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall) and New York State Psychiatric Institute (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Stohl, Greenstein, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall), New York; Epidemiology, Pfizer, Inc., New York (Petronis); Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle (Von Korff); Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers University, Newark, N.J. (Datta); Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York (Sonty, Weinberger); Department of Psychiatry, New York University, New York (Ross); Cornell University Medical College, New York (Inturrisi)
| | - Jennifer Scodes
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall) and New York State Psychiatric Institute (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Stohl, Greenstein, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall), New York; Epidemiology, Pfizer, Inc., New York (Petronis); Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle (Von Korff); Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers University, Newark, N.J. (Datta); Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York (Sonty, Weinberger); Department of Psychiatry, New York University, New York (Ross); Cornell University Medical College, New York (Inturrisi)
| | - Melanie M Wall
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall) and New York State Psychiatric Institute (Hasin, Shmulewitz, Stohl, Greenstein, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall), New York; Epidemiology, Pfizer, Inc., New York (Petronis); Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle (Von Korff); Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers University, Newark, N.J. (Datta); Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York (Sonty, Weinberger); Department of Psychiatry, New York University, New York (Ross); Cornell University Medical College, New York (Inturrisi)
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Gorfinkel LR, Hasin D, Saxon AJ, Wall M, Martins SS, Cerdá M, Keyes K, Fink DS, Keyhani S, Maynard CC, Olfson M. Trends in Prescriptions for Non-opioid Pain Medications Among U.S. Adults With Moderate or Severe Pain, 2014-2018. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2022; 23:1187-1195. [PMID: 35143969 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2022.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
As opioid prescribing has declined, it is unclear how the landscape of prescription pain treatment across the U.S. has changed. We used nationally-representative data from the Medical Expenditure Health Survey, 2014 to 2018 to examine trends in prescriptions for opioid and non-opioid pain medications, including acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, gabapentinoids, and antidepressants among U.S. adults with self-reported pain. Overall, from 2014 to 2018, the percentage of participants receiving a prescription for opioids declined, (38.8% vs 32.8%), remained stable for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (26.8% vs 27.7%), and increased for acetaminophen (1.6% vs 2.3%), antidepressants (9.6% vs 12.0%) and gabapentinoids (13.2% vs 19.0%). In this period, the adjusted odds of receiving an opioid prescription decreased (aOR = .93, 95% CI = .90-.96), while the adjusted odds of receiving antidepressant, gabapentinoid and acetaminophen prescriptions increased (antidepressants: aOR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.03-1.13 gabapentinoids: aOR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.06-1.17; acetaminophen: aOR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.02-1.20). Secondary analyses stratifiying within the 2014 to 2016 and 2016 to 2018 periods revealed particular increases in prescriptions for gabapentinoids (aOR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.05-1.21) and antidepressants (aOR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.12-1.35) since 2016. PERSPECTIVE: These data demonstrate that physicians are increasingly turning to CDC-recommended non-opioid medications for pain management, particularly antidepressants and gabapentinoids. However, evidence for these medications' efficacy in treating numerous common pain conditions, including low back pain, remains limited.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren R Gorfinkel
- The New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
| | - Deborah Hasin
- The New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York; Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, New York; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Andrew J Saxon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Veteran Affairs Puget Sound Health System, United States of America
| | - Melanie Wall
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Silvia S Martins
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Magdalena Cerdá
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Katherine Keyes
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - David S Fink
- The New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
| | - Salomeh Keyhani
- San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, California; Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Charles C Maynard
- Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Mark Olfson
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Association of medical cannabis licensure with prescription opioid receipt: A population-based, individual-level retrospective cohort study. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2022; 100:103502. [PMID: 34695720 PMCID: PMC8810578 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103502] [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: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The endocannabinoid system has been implicated in physiological processes fundamental to pain, giving plausibility to the hypothesis that cannabis may be used as a substitute or complement to prescription opioids in the management of chronic pain. We examined the association of medical cannabis licensure with likelihood of prescription opioid receipt using administrative records. METHODS This study linked registry information for medical cannabis licensure with records from the prescription drug monitoring program from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2019 to create a population-based, retrospective cohort in Rhode Island. We examined within-person changes in receipt of any opioid prescription and receipt of an opioid prescription with a morphine equivalent dose of 50 mg or more, and of 90 mg or more. RESULTS The sample included 5,296 participants with medical cannabis license. Medical cannabis licensure was not associated with the odds of filling any opioid prescription (OR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.94-0.1.05) or the odds of filling a prescription with a morphine equivalent dose of 50 mg or more (OR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.84-1.04) and 90 mg or more (OR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.86-1.15). CONCLUSION Medical cannabis licensure was not associated with subsequent cessation and reduction in prescription opioid use. Re-scheduling of cannabis will allow for the conduct of randomized controlled trials to determine the efficacy of medical cannabis as an alternative to prescription opioid use or a complement to the use of lower doses of prescription opioids in patients with chronic pain.
Collapse
|
15
|
Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Haney
- Division on Substance Use Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Livne O, Shmulewitz D, Sarvet AL, Wall MM, Hasin DS. Association of Cannabis Use-Related Predictor Variables and Self-Reported Psychotic Disorders: U.S. Adults, 2001-2002 and 2012-2013. Am J Psychiatry 2022; 179:36-45. [PMID: 34645275 PMCID: PMC8945254 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2021.21010073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The authors sought to determine the association of cannabis indicators with self-reported psychotic disorders in the U.S. general population. METHODS Participants were from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC; 2001-2002; N=43,093) and NESARC-III (2012-2013; N=36,309). Logistic regression was used to estimate standardized prevalences of past-year self-reported psychotic disorders within each survey and to evaluate the association of past-year self-reported psychotic disorders with indicators of nonmedical cannabis use (any use; frequent use [at least three times/week], daily/near-daily use, and DSM-IV cannabis use disorder) compared with those with no past-year nonmedical cannabis use. Whether the strength of associations differed between surveys was indicated by difference-in-difference tests (between-survey contrasts) and ratios of odds ratios between surveys. RESULTS Self-reported psychotic disorders were significantly more prevalent among participants with any nonmedical cannabis use than those without (2001-2002: 1.65% compared with 0.27%; 2012-2013: 1.89% compared with 0.68%). In 2001-2002, self-reported psychotic disorders were unrelated to either frequent use or daily/near-daily use. However, in 2012 - 2013, compared with nonusers, self-reported psychotic disorders were more common among participants with frequent use and those with daily/near-daily nonmedical cannabis use (2012-2013: 2.79% and 2.52%, respectively, compared with 0.68% among nonusers). Self-reported psychotic disorders were significantly more prevalent among participants with cannabis use disorder than nonusers in both surveys (2001-2002: 2.55% compared with 0.27%; 2012 - 2013: 3.38% compared with 0.68%). The strength of these associations did not change over time. CONCLUSIONS Data from the U.S. general population, especially more recent data, suggest associations between self-reported psychotic disorder and frequent nonmedical cannabis use and cannabis use disorder. Clinicians and policy makers should consider these relationships when monitoring patients and formulating programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ofir Livne
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY
| | - Dvora Shmulewitz
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY,Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Aaron L. Sarvet
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Melanie M. Wall
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Deborah S. Hasin
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY,Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Browne KC, Stohl M, Bohnert KM, Saxon AJ, Fink DS, Olfson M, Cerda M, Sherman S, Gradus JL, Martins SS, Hasin DS. Prevalence and Correlates of Cannabis Use and Cannabis Use Disorder Among U.S. Veterans: Results From the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC-III). Am J Psychiatry 2022; 179:26-35. [PMID: 34407625 PMCID: PMC8724447 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2021.20081202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The authors sought to estimate the prevalence of past-12-month and lifetime cannabis use and cannabis use disorder among U.S. veterans; to describe demographic, substance use disorder, and psychiatric disorder correlates of nonmedical cannabis use and cannabis use disorder; and to explore differences in cannabis use and cannabis use disorder prevalence among veterans in states with and without medical marijuana laws. METHODS Participants were 3,119 respondents in the 2012-2013 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (NESARC-III) who identified as U.S. veterans. Weighted prevalences were calculated. Logistic regression analyses tested associations of nonmedical cannabis use and cannabis use disorder with demographic and clinical correlates and examined whether prevalence differed by state legalization status. RESULTS The prevalences of any past-12-month cannabis use and cannabis use disorder were 7.3% and 1.8%, respectively. Lifetime prevalences were 32.5% and 5.7%, respectively. Past-12-month and lifetime cannabis use disorder prevalence estimates among nonmedical cannabis users were 24.4% and 17.4%, respectively. Sociodemographic correlates of nonmedical cannabis use and use disorder included younger age, male gender, being unmarried, lower income, and residing in a state with medical marijuana laws. Nonmedical cannabis use and use disorder were associated with most psychiatric and substance use disorders examined. CONCLUSIONS Among veterans, the odds of nonmedical cannabis use and use disorder were elevated among vulnerable subgroups, including those with lower income or psychiatric disorders and among survey participants residing in states with medical marijuana laws. The study findings highlight the need for clinical attention (e.g., screening, assessment) and ongoing monitoring among veterans in the context of increasing legalization of cannabis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kendall C. Browne
- Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA,Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education, VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle, WA,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Malki Stohl
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY
| | - Kipling M. Bohnert
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI,VA Center for Clinical Management Research (CCMR), VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Andrew J. Saxon
- Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - David S. Fink
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY,Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY
| | - Mark Olfson
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY,Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY,Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Magdalena Cerda
- Department of Population Health, New York University, New York, NY
| | - Scott Sherman
- Department of Population Health, New York University, New York, NY
| | | | - Silvia S. Martins
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY
| | - Deborah S. Hasin
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY,Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY,Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Cornish JL, Prasad AA. Sex Differences in Substance Use Disorders: A Neurobiological Perspective. Front Glob Womens Health 2021; 2:778514. [PMID: 34957467 PMCID: PMC8692274 DOI: 10.3389/fgwh.2021.778514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical studies provide fundamental knowledge of substance use behaviors (substance of abuse, patterns of use, relapse rates). The combination of neuroimaging approaches reveal correlation between substance use disorder (SUD) and changes in neural structure, function, and neurotransmission. Here, we review these advances, placing special emphasis on sex specific findings from structural neuroimaging studies of those dependent on alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, psychostimulants, or opioids. Recent clinical studies in SUD analyzing sex differences reveal neurobiological changes that are differentially impacted in common reward processing regions such as the striatum, hippocampus, amygdala, insula, and corpus collosum. We reflect on the contribution of sex hormones, period of drug use and abstinence, and the potential impact of these factors on the interpretation of the reported findings. With the overall recognition that SUD impacts the brains of females and males differentially, it is of fundamental importance that future research is designed with sex as a variable of study in this field. Improved understanding of neurobiological changes in males and females in SUD will advance knowledge underlying sex-specific susceptibility and the neurobiological impact in these disorders. Together these findings will inform future treatments that are tailor designed for improved efficacy in females and males with SUD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Cornish
- School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Asheeta A Prasad
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Zloczower O, Brill S, Zeitak Y, Peles E. Risk and benefit of cannabis prescription for chronic non-cancer pain. J Addict Dis 2021; 40:157-167. [PMID: 34338621 DOI: 10.1080/10550887.2021.1956673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We investigated whether cannabis usage was associated with reduced opioid usage, and the rates of opioid and cannabis use disorders among chronic pain patients who had been prescribed medical cannabis. METHODS A random sample of chronic pain patients who had license for cannabis use were interviewed by telephone about their lifetime opioid and cannabis usage. Cannabis and opioid use disorders were assessed with Portenoy's criteria. RESULTS Of the 100 participants aged 18-70 years (compliance 67% (aged >40) and 33% (aged ≤ 40y)), 76 ever used opioids. Of them, 93% decreased or stopped opioids following cannabis initiation. Ten patients (10%), 17.4% of the ≤40 y age group, met the criteria for cannabis use disorder. Compared to those who did not meet the criteria, their lifetime depression was higher (80% vs. 43.2%, respectively, P=.042), and they were less educated (12.2 ± 0.6y vs. 13.5 ± 2.1y, p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Cannabis usage was associated with reduced opioid usage. The prevalence of cannabis use disorder was high among the younger participants who also had a lower study compliance rate, suggesting the higher actual prevalence of cannabis use disorder. While medical cannabis may help reduce opioid use in chronic non-cancer pain patients, younger age, depression, and other risk factors should be carefully evaluated before cannabis is prescribed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ory Zloczower
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Buchmann Faculty of Law, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Silviu Brill
- Pain Center, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Yael Zeitak
- Pain Center, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Einat Peles
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Clinic for Drug Abuse, Treatment and Research, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Schlag AK, Hindocha C, Zafar R, Nutt DJ, Curran HV. Cannabis based medicines and cannabis dependence: A critical review of issues and evidence. J Psychopharmacol 2021; 35:773-785. [PMID: 33593117 PMCID: PMC8278552 DOI: 10.1177/0269881120986393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cannabis has been legalised for medical use in an ever-increasing number of countries. A growing body of scientific evidence supports the use of medical cannabis for a range of therapeutic indications. In parallel with these developments, concerns have been expressed by many prescribers that increased use will lead to patients developing cannabis use disorder. Cannabis use disorder has been widely studied in recreational users, and these findings have often been projected onto patients using medical cannabis. However, studies exploring medical cannabis dependence are scarce and the appropriate methodology to measure this construct is uncertain. This article provides a narrative review of the current research to discern if, how and to what extent, concerns about problems of dependence in recreational cannabis users apply to prescribed medical users. We focus on the main issues related to medical cannabis and dependence, including the importance of dose, potency, cannabinoid content, pharmacokinetics and route of administration, frequency of use, as well as set and setting. Medical and recreational cannabis use differs in significant ways, highlighting the challenges of extrapolating findings from the recreational cannabis literature. There are many questions about the potential for medical cannabis use to lead to dependence. It is therefore imperative to address these questions in order to be able to minimise harms of medical cannabis use. We draw out seven recommendations for increasing the safety of medical cannabis prescribing. We hope that the present review contributes to answering some of the key questions surrounding medical cannabis dependence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne K Schlag
- Drug Science, St Peter’s House, London, UK
- Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Centre for Psychiatry, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Chandni Hindocha
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK
- University College Hospital National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Rayyan Zafar
- Drug Science, St Peter’s House, London, UK
- Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Centre for Psychiatry, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - David J Nutt
- Drug Science, St Peter’s House, London, UK
- Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Centre for Psychiatry, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - H Valerie Curran
- Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK
- University College Hospital National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Sideli L, Trotta G, Spinazzola E, La Cascia C, Di Forti M. Adverse effects of heavy cannabis use: even plants can harm the brain. Pain 2021; 162:S97-S104. [PMID: 32804835 PMCID: PMC8216111 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Sideli
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosceince, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - Giulia Trotta
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosceince, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - Edoardo Spinazzola
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosceince, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs (NeSMOS), Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Caterina La Cascia
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic, Palermo University, Palermo, Italy
| | - Marta Di Forti
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Mental Health Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- South London and Maudsley NHS Mental Health Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Shmulewitz D, Aharonovich E, Witkiewitz K, Anton RF, Kranzler HR, Scodes J, Mann KF, Wall MM, Hasin D. The World Health Organization Risk Drinking Levels Measure of Alcohol Consumption: Prevalence and Health Correlates in Nationally Representative Surveys of U.S. Adults, 2001-2002 and 2012-2013. Am J Psychiatry 2021; 178:548-559. [PMID: 33472388 PMCID: PMC8222066 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20050610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Little is known about change over time in the prevalence of World Health Organization (WHO) risk drinking levels (very high, high, moderate, low) and their association with health conditions, overall and by gender. The authors used two sets of nationally representative U.S. survey data to determine whether changes over time varied by gender and to examine whether health conditions related to alcohol were associated with WHO risk drinking level within each survey, and whether these associations differed by gender. METHODS Data on current drinkers from the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC; N=26,655) and the 2012-2013 NESARC-III (N=25,659) were analyzed using logistic regression. Prevalence differences between surveys were estimated for each drinking level overall and by gender. Within each survey, prevalence differences by WHO risk drinking level were estimated for alcohol use disorder (AUD), drug use disorders, functional impairment, liver disease, and depressive and anxiety disorders. RESULTS In the 2012-2013 survey, the prevalences of moderate, high, and very high risk drinking were 5.9%, 3.2%, and 3.5%, respectively, representing significant increases from the prevalences in the 2001-2002 survey, which were 1.0%, 0.6%, and 0.9%, respectively. The increase for very high risk drinking among men (0.5%) was smaller than the increase among women (1.4%). Within both surveys, compared with low risk, health conditions were significantly associated with very high risk (range of prevalence differences, 2.2%-57.8%), high risk (2.6%-41.3%), and moderate risk (0.6%-29.8%) drinking. Associations were similar by gender, except that there were stronger effects for AUD in men and for functional impairment and depressive and anxiety disorders in women. CONCLUSIONS The increase in potentially problematic drinking levels among U.S. adults emphasizes the need for better prevention and treatment strategies. The study results support the validity of the WHO risk drinking levels, which show clinical utility as nonabstinent drinking reduction treatment goals. Such goals could engage more people in treatment, improving public health by decreasing personal and societal consequences of risk drinking.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dvora Shmulewitz
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Efrat Aharonovich
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Katie Witkiewitz
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Raymond F Anton
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Henry R Kranzler
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA,Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Karl F Mann
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Melanie M Wall
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA,Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Deborah Hasin
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA,Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | -
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York (Shmulewitz, Aharonovich, Wall, Hasin); New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York (Shmulewitz, Aharonovich, Scodes, Wall, Hasin); Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque (Witkiewitz); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (Anton); Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (Kranzler); Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia (Kranzler); Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany (Mann); Department of Biostatistics (Wall) and Department of Epidemiology (Hasin), Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Gorfinkel LR, Stohl M, Greenstein E, Aharonovich E, Olfson M, Hasin D. Is Cannabis being used as a substitute for non-medical opioids by adults with problem substance use in the United States? A within-person analysis. Addiction 2021; 116:1113-1121. [PMID: 33029914 PMCID: PMC8026758 DOI: 10.1111/add.15228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Ecological studies have suggested that Cannabis legalization might have led to a decrease in opioid overdose deaths. Such studies do not provide information about whether individuals are substituting Cannabis for opioids at different points in time. The current study assessed the magnitude of the daily association between Cannabis and opioid use in individual adults with and without pain who use non-medical opioids. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING The greater New York area and a suburban inpatient addiction program. PARTICIPANTS Adults with problem substance use who use non-medical opioids, recruited from May 2016-June 2019. The analytical sample included 13 271 days of observation among 211 participants (64% male, 41% white, 78% unmarried, 80% unemployed, mean age 43 years). MEASUREMENTS Participants completed interviewer- and self-administered computerized surveys, and then responded to an interactive voice response (IVR) system daily for the following 90 days. The main exposures, Cannabis use and pain, were defined as responding affirmatively to the IVR question: 'Did you use Cannabis yesterday?' and endorsing moderate or severe pain at baseline, respectively. The main outcome, non-medical or illicit opioid use during 90-day follow-up, was defined as responding affirmatively to IVR question: 'Did you use heroin yesterday?' or 'Did you use prescription opioids more than prescribed or without a prescription yesterday?'. FINDINGS The mean IVR completion rate was 70%. The unadjusted odds ratio (aOR) indicating same-day use of Cannabis and opioids was 2.00 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.54-2.59]. Controlling for demographic characteristics, recruitment method, opioid types at baseline and pain, the aOR was 1.86 (95% CI = 1.44-2.41). A test of interaction between pain and Cannabis use to determine if the association of Cannabis with opioid use differed between people with moderate-to-severe pain and less-than-moderate pain was inconclusive. CONCLUSIONS Among US adults with problem substance use who use non-medical opioids, the odds of opioid use appear to be approximately doubled on days when Cannabis is used. This relationship does not appear to differ between people with moderate or more severe pain versus less than moderate pain, suggesting that Cannabis is not being used as a substitute for illegal opioids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren R. Gorfinkel
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Malki Stohl
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Efrat Aharonovich
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mark Olfson
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Deborah Hasin
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Hasin D, Walsh C. Trends over time in adult cannabis use: A review of recent findings. Curr Opin Psychol 2021; 38:80-85. [PMID: 33873044 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
In the United States, policies regarding the medical and nonmedical use of cannabis are changing rapidly. In 2021, a total of 34 US states have legalized cannabis for adult medical use, and 15 of these states have legalized adult non-medical use. These changing policies have raised questions about increasing prevalences of cannabis use, changing perceptions regarding frequent use, and potentially related outcomes such as comorbid psychiatric illness or driving under the influence of cannabis. Research regarding the correlates of any and frequent cannabis use is also developing quickly. This article reviews recent empirical studies concerning (1) adult trends in cannabis use, (2) state cannabis laws and related outcomes, and (3) emerging evidence regarding how the global coronavirus 19 pandemic may impact cannabis use patterns. We summarize recent findings and conclude with suggestions to address unanticipated effects of rapidly changing cannabis laws and policies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Hasin
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Claire Walsh
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Kalin NH, Binder E, Brady KT, Lewis DA, Pine DS, Rodriguez C, Trivedi MH, Edwards ML. 2020 Articles of Import and Impact. Am J Psychiatry 2021; 178:13-16. [PMID: 33384005 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20111654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
26
|
Wilson M, Klein T, Bindler RJ, Kaplan L. Shared Decision-Making for Patients Using Cannabis for Pain Symptom Management in the United States. Pain Manag Nurs 2020; 22:15-20. [PMID: 33139204 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmn.2020.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Gaps in research evidence and inconsistent policies regarding use of cannabis for pain and associated symptoms result in confusion for healthcare providers and patients. The objective of this review was to synthesize information on cannabis use for pain with legal and policy implications to create a shared decision-making model that can be used to guide patient care interactions. APPROACH Current cannabis policies, state laws, research, and patient care practices related to medical and recreational cannabis in the United States were reviewed, along with best practices in shared decision-making. Reviewed literature was then synthesized to create a model that can be used by registered nurses and others to address cannabis use, where legal, for pain and related symptoms. RESULT AND CONCLUSIONS Cannabis is a legal option for many patients with pain. To minimize harms and optimize benefits, nurses can play a key role when authorized by law in assisting with decision-making surrounding cannabis use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marian Wilson
- College of Nursing, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington, USA.
| | - Tracy Klein
- College of Nursing, Washington State University, Vancouver, Washington, USA
| | - Ross J Bindler
- College of Nursing, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington, USA
| | - Louise Kaplan
- College of Nursing, Washington State University, Vancouver, Washington, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Haney
- Division on Substance Use Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Gold M. Medicinal Marijuana, Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: Primum non nocere. MISSOURI MEDICINE 2020; 117:406-411. [PMID: 33311739 PMCID: PMC7723145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mark Gold
- Adjunct Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, and Distinguished Alumni Professor, Emeritus Eminent Scholar, McKnight Brain Institute University of Florida (Retired)
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Affiliation(s)
- Ned H Kalin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison
| |
Collapse
|