Among 194 regular cannabis users surveyed at French music festivals, 63.4% met DSM-IV criteria for cannabis dependence, and dependent users were more likely to also use stimulants and hallucinogens.
People interested in cannabis dependence prevalence and harm reduction in festival settings.
63.4% of regular users at festivals met dependence criteria
What the researchers found
63.4% of regular cannabis users (at least monthly) at music festivals met DSM-IV dependence criteria. Over 40% of regular users reported health and/or social consequences. Dependent users were significantly more likely to also use stimulants and hallucinogens compared to non-dependent users.
Why it matters
Music festivals attract high rates of substance use but are rarely targeted for cannabis-specific harm reduction. Finding that most regular users at festivals meet dependence criteria suggests these events could be important venues for reaching people who might benefit from treatment information.
The numbers in context
383 total participants. Over two-thirds reported past-year cannabis use. 194 regular users (at least monthly). 63.4% of regular users met dependence criteria. 40%+ reported health/social consequences. 13 music events surveyed.
How the study worked
Cross-sectional survey at 13 music events in Loire-Atlantique, France (July 2017-July 2018). 383 participants aged 18+ completed face-to-face interviews covering demographics, substance use, and DSM-IV cannabis dependence criteria.
What this study cannot tell us
Festival-attending cannabis users are not representative of all cannabis users. DSM-IV dependence criteria (now replaced by DSM-5 use disorder) may overcategorize dependence. French music festival culture may differ from other countries. Self-report measures.
How to read the evidence
Cross-sectional survey with face-to-face interviews and validated criteria. The festival setting makes this a convenience sample that likely overrepresents heavier users.
When this study was published
Published in 2024 with data from 2017-2018 French music festivals.
The bigger picture
Traditional health care settings reach only a small proportion of cannabis users who might benefit from support. Festivals represent an alternative venue where targeted harm reduction messaging could reach a population that skews toward heavier, more consequential use patterns.
Questions still open
- Would harm reduction messaging at festivals actually change behavior? Are festival cannabis users aware they meet dependence criteria? How do dependence rates at festivals compare to community samples of regular users?
Common questions
Are most regular cannabis users at festivals dependent?
What other substances did dependent cannabis users also take?
Read the original research
Cannabis use and dependence among festival attendees: results from the French OCTOPUS survey.
BMC public health, 24(1), 992
Citation
Chaaban, Sarah; Istvan, Marion; Schreck, Benoit; Laigo, Pauline; Rousselet, Morgane; Grall-Bronnec, Marie; Pain, Stéphanie; Victorri-Vigneau, Caroline. (2024). Cannabis use and dependence among festival attendees: results from the French OCTOPUS survey.. BMC public health, 24(1), 992. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18496-9
Explore the wider topic
- Surviving 4/20 Sober: A Practical Survival Guide
- CBT for Cannabis Recovery: How Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Works
- Physical vs Psychological Cannabis Dependence: What Science Actually Shows
- The Gap Between Cannabis Perception and Science: Why What We Believe Outpaces What We Know
- The Cannabis Relapse Cycle: Quit, Feel Good, Get Complacent, Repeat
- Cannabis Use Disorder: Am I Addicted? Self-Assessment Guide
- Cold Turkey vs Tapering: Which Way to Quit Weed
- Cross-Addiction After Quitting Weed: When One Habit Replaces Another
- Dating Sober After Years of Being High: What Nobody Tells You
- Exercise as Medicine: Working Out After Quitting Weed
- Grieving Weed Itself: Mourning the Loss of a Companion
- How to Help Someone Quit Weed (When They're Not Ready)
- How to Quit Weed: A No-Judgment Step by Step Guide
- Is Weed Addictive? What the Research Actually Shows
- Is Cannabis Addictive? What the DSM-5 and Brain Science Say
- Journaling Through Weed Withdrawal: Why Writing Helps You Heal
- MA vs SMART Recovery vs Therapy: Comparing Your Options
- Meditation and Mindfulness for Weed Withdrawal
- Your Partner Still Smokes Weed: How to Navigate It
- Quitting Weed While Your Partner Still Smokes
- The Pink Cloud Effect: When Quitting Weed Feels Too Good
- How to Quit Smoking Weed Cold Turkey: What to Expect
- Quit Weed or Cut Back: Which Is Right for You?
- I Quit Weed and Regret It: An Honest Look at Non-Linear Recovery
- Quitting Weed in Your 20s: Career, Social Life, Starting Over
- Quitting Weed in Your 30s: It's Not Too Late
- Quitting Weed After 10+ Years of Daily Use: What to Expect
- Quitting Weed and Alcohol Together: What to Know About Dual Cessation
- Quitting Weed During a Life Crisis: Divorce, Job Loss, and Other Bad Timing
- Quitting Weed and Working Out: How Exercise Helps Recovery
- Quitting Weed After Loss: When Grief Comes Flooding Back
- Quitting Weed When It's Legal Everywhere
- Weed Withdrawal Success Stories: Real People Who Made It Through
- Quitting Weed Long Distance: When You Can't Remove Triggers
- Is Rehab Necessary for Weed? An Honest Assessment
- I Relapsed on Weed. Now What? A Practical Reset Guide
- I Relapsed After Quitting Weed: What Now?
- Should I Quit Weed? A Decision Framework (Not a Lecture)
- Signs You May Have Cannabis Use Disorder: An Honest Self-Assessment
- Quitting Weed at Music Festivals and Concerts: A Sober Survival Guide
- Supplements That Actually Help with Weed Withdrawal (And Ones That Don't)
- How to Tell Your Friends You're Quitting Weed
- Relapse Prevention Plan for Cannabis: A CBT-Based Approach
- Why Weed Relapse Happens: The Science Behind Going Back
- Replacing the Ritual: What to Do When You Quit Weed
- How Cannabis Damaged My Relationships: Before and After
- Social Media Detox from Weed Content
- Weed Vape Pen Addiction: Why Vaping Makes It Harder to Quit