Cannabis users who reported more dependence and emotional dysregulation were more likely to use other drugs and drive impaired
A survey of 200 active cannabis users found that heavier use, dependence, emotional dysregulation, and psychopathology were all associated with greater use of other substances and driving under the influence.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Cannabis users were significantly more likely than non-users (n=833 comparison group) to have used other drugs in the past 12 months. Among cannabis users, degree of use, likely dependence, psycho-social motives, emotion dysregulation, and psychopathology predicted frequency of using other substances and driving impaired.
Key Numbers
200 active cannabis users and 833 non-users. Cannabis users were far more likely to use other drugs. No significant differences in substance use behaviors or psychological dysfunction between medicinal and black-market cannabis users (except age).
How They Did This
Online survey of 200 active adult cannabis users with screening criteria, plus comparative data from 833 non-cannabis users. Used bivariate correlations, multiple regressions, and ANOVA comparing medicinal vs. black-market users.
Why This Research Matters
Understanding what psychological factors connect cannabis use to other substance use and impaired driving can help road safety and treatment programs target the right risk factors rather than treating all cannabis users the same.
The Bigger Picture
The finding that emotional dysregulation and psychopathology predict poly-substance use and impaired driving suggests that psychological interventions, not just substance-specific ones, could reduce harm across multiple risky behaviors simultaneously.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot determine whether cannabis use leads to other substance use or vice versa. Relatively small cannabis user sample. Self-reported driving behavior. Online convenience sample may not be representative.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would interventions targeting emotional regulation skills reduce both poly-substance use and impaired driving among cannabis users?
- ?Does the type of cannabis product matter for these associations?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 200 cannabis users surveyed on poly-substance use and driving
- Evidence Grade:
- Cross-sectional survey with regression analysis but small sample and self-reported outcomes.
- Study Age:
- 2024 study of active adult cannabis users.
- Original Title:
- Is cannabis a slippery slope? Associations between psychological dysfunctioning, other substance use, and impaired driving, in a sample of active cannabis users.
- Published In:
- PloS one, 19(10), e0310958 (2024)
- Authors:
- Love, Steven, Rowland, Bevan, Armstrong, Kerry
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05494
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Were cannabis users more likely to use other drugs?
Yes. Compared to 833 non-cannabis users, the 200 cannabis users were significantly more likely to have used other substances in the past 12 months.
What predicted driving under the influence?
Heavier cannabis use, likely dependence, psycho-social motives for using, emotion dysregulation, and psychopathology all predicted more frequent impaired driving.
Did medicinal vs. black-market users differ?
No. Apart from age, there were no significant differences in substance use behaviors, motives, or psychological dysfunction between medicinal and black-market cannabis users.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05494APA
Love, Steven; Rowland, Bevan; Armstrong, Kerry. (2024). Is cannabis a slippery slope? Associations between psychological dysfunctioning, other substance use, and impaired driving, in a sample of active cannabis users.. PloS one, 19(10), e0310958. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310958
MLA
Love, Steven, et al. "Is cannabis a slippery slope? Associations between psychological dysfunctioning, other substance use, and impaired driving, in a sample of active cannabis users.." PloS one, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310958
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Is cannabis a slippery slope? Associations between psycholog..." RTHC-05494. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/love-2024-is-cannabis-a-slippery
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.