Women With Cannabis Use Disorder Used More Often to Cope With Negative Emotions Than Men

Women scored higher on four of eight IDTS subscales related to negative affect: conflict with others, testing personal control, physical discomfort, and unpleasant emotions. Across both genders, cannabis use in negative contexts was associated with childhood stress history. Recent stress was differentially associated with use during unpleasant emotions by gender.

Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from 148 non-treatment-seeking individuals with cannabis use disorder. The Inventory of Drug Taking Situations (IDTS) assessed eight types of situations associated with cannabis use. Self-reported past 90-day substance use and measures of childhood and recent stress were included as covariates.

Understanding why men and women use cannabis differently is essential for developing gender-informed treatments for cannabis use disorder. The link between negative emotional contexts and women's cannabis use suggests that emotion regulation skills may be a particularly important treatment target for women.

Gender-specific treatment approaches are becoming standard in addiction medicine for alcohol and opioids. This study provides evidence that cannabis use disorder also has important gender dimensions, particularly around the role of negative emotions and stress as triggers.

Cross-sectional design cannot determine causation. Non-treatment-seeking sample may not represent those in treatment. The IDTS measures self-perceived situations rather than objectively verified contexts. Sample size limits complex subgroup analyses.