Women with children who used cannabis before treatment were most likely to drop out
Among 3,814 cannabis use disorder outpatients, females with children who used cannabis in the month before treatment had the lowest treatment adherence, while pre-treatment use predicted worse outcomes for women more than men.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Sex moderated the relationship between number of children and treatment adherence: having more children predicted lower adherence specifically in females. Pre-treatment cannabis use also predicted lower adherence more strongly in females. Women with children were more likely to drop out of treatment compared to men with children.
Key Numbers
3,814 outpatients with cannabis use disorder. Sex moderated effects of children and pre-treatment use on adherence. Females with children: higher dropout. Pre-treatment cannabis use: stronger negative effect on adherence for females.
How They Did This
Multicentric retrospective observational study of 3,814 outpatients diagnosed with cannabis use disorder. Electronic health records analyzed for treatment admission characteristics, adherence, and discharge outcomes. Moderation analyses tested sex as a moderator.
Why This Research Matters
Understanding why women drop out of cannabis treatment at higher rates can inform targeted interventions. The finding that childcare responsibilities specifically predict female dropout suggests practical barriers, not just clinical factors, drive the gender gap.
The Bigger Picture
Cannabis treatment research has paid insufficient attention to gender-specific barriers. This large multicentric study identifies actionable targets: childcare support and pre-treatment engagement for women with children could improve treatment completion rates.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Retrospective design with electronic health records that may have missing data. Cannot determine specific reasons for dropout. Cultural factors from the study country may not generalize. Pre-treatment cannabis use was binary (yes/no) without dose information.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would providing childcare during treatment sessions improve female adherence?
- ?Should treatment intensity be adjusted based on pre-treatment cannabis use for women?
- ?What other practical barriers drive the gender gap in treatment retention?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Having children predicted dropout specifically for women, not men
- Evidence Grade:
- Large multicentric study with moderation analysis. Limited by retrospective design and administrative data sources.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2024 in Addictive Behaviors.
- Original Title:
- The moderating role of sex in the relationship between cannabis use treatment admission profile and treatment processes and outcomes: A gender perspective.
- Published In:
- Addictive behaviors, 157, 108103 (2024)
- Authors:
- Dacosta-Sánchez, Daniel(2), Michelini, Yanina(4), Pilatti, Angelina(4), Fernández-Calderón, Fermín, Lozano, Óscar M, González-Ponce, Bella M
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05243
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Do men and women respond differently to cannabis treatment?
In this study of nearly 4,000 patients, women were more likely to drop out, particularly those with children and those who used cannabis in the month before starting treatment. Men were less affected by these factors.
What can improve treatment for women with cannabis use disorder?
The authors suggest enhanced contingency management programs for women with children, along with sex-sensitive therapist training. Addressing practical barriers like childcare could improve treatment retention.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05243APA
Dacosta-Sánchez, Daniel; Michelini, Yanina; Pilatti, Angelina; Fernández-Calderón, Fermín; Lozano, Óscar M; González-Ponce, Bella M. (2024). The moderating role of sex in the relationship between cannabis use treatment admission profile and treatment processes and outcomes: A gender perspective.. Addictive behaviors, 157, 108103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108103
MLA
Dacosta-Sánchez, Daniel, et al. "The moderating role of sex in the relationship between cannabis use treatment admission profile and treatment processes and outcomes: A gender perspective.." Addictive behaviors, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108103
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "The moderating role of sex in the relationship between canna..." RTHC-05243. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/dacosta-sanchez-2024-the-moderating-role-of
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.