Regular cannabis users with stronger motives for using have worse mental health
Among 329 weekly cannabis users, those with higher motives and expectations for cannabis use had more psychosis symptoms, depression, anxiety, stress, and were more likely to meet criteria for cannabis use disorder.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Two distinct user classes emerged: Low Motives/Expectancies (n=158) and High Motives/Expectancies (n=171). The High class reported higher symptoms of psychosis (positive and negative), depression, anxiety, and stress. They were more likely to meet cannabis use disorder criteria, had more nicotine dependence and other illicit drug use, and were more likely to get high before work and drive under the influence.
Key Numbers
329 weekly users. 2 classes: Low Motives (n=158) and High Motives (n=171). High class had more psychosis symptoms, depression, anxiety, stress, CUD criteria, nicotine dependence, and reckless behavior.
How They Did This
Online survey of 329 weekly cannabis users via Amazon Mechanical Turk. Latent class analysis using motives and expectations to identify user profiles. Classes compared on mental health and behavioral outcomes.
Why This Research Matters
Not all regular cannabis users are alike. Identifying high-risk profiles based on motives and expectations could help target interventions to those most likely to experience problems.
The Bigger Picture
As cannabis becomes more accessible, tools that identify which regular users are at highest risk for negative outcomes become increasingly valuable for clinical screening.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Amazon Mechanical Turk sample may not represent all cannabis users. Cross-sectional design cannot determine causation. Self-reported measures. Weekly use threshold may capture diverse use patterns.
Questions This Raises
- ?Can motives-based screening identify at-risk users before problems develop?
- ?Would targeted interventions for high-motives users reduce harm?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- High-motives users had more psychosis, depression, and anxiety
- Evidence Grade:
- Novel latent class approach with multiple validated measures, but online convenience sample and cross-sectional design.
- Study Age:
- 2020 study.
- Original Title:
- Young Adults With Higher Motives and Expectancies of Regular Cannabis Use Show Poorer Psychosocial Functioning.
- Published In:
- Frontiers in psychiatry, 11, 599365 (2020)
- Authors:
- Amiet, Danielle, Youssef, George J(3), Hagg, Lauryn J, Lorenzetti, Valentina, Parkes, Linden, Solowij, Nadia, Yücel, Murat
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02382
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Are some regular cannabis users at higher risk than others?
This study found that regular users with stronger motives and expectations for cannabis use had significantly worse mental health outcomes, including more psychosis symptoms and higher rates of cannabis use disorder.
What distinguishes high-risk cannabis users?
High-risk users endorsed multiple motivations for use, had higher positive and negative expectations about cannabis effects, more peer use, and were more likely to use before work or drive high.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02382APA
Amiet, Danielle; Youssef, George J; Hagg, Lauryn J; Lorenzetti, Valentina; Parkes, Linden; Solowij, Nadia; Yücel, Murat. (2020). Young Adults With Higher Motives and Expectancies of Regular Cannabis Use Show Poorer Psychosocial Functioning.. Frontiers in psychiatry, 11, 599365. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.599365
MLA
Amiet, Danielle, et al. "Young Adults With Higher Motives and Expectancies of Regular Cannabis Use Show Poorer Psychosocial Functioning.." Frontiers in psychiatry, 2020. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.599365
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Young Adults With Higher Motives and Expectancies of Regular..." RTHC-02382. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/amiet-2020-young-adults-with-higher
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.