Nearly 1 in 4 Young ER Visitors in France Were Using Cannabis
Among 460 young people aged 16-25 visiting a French emergency department, 23% were currently using cannabis, and users were more likely to be male, unemployed, have lower mental health, report sexual abuse history, and screen positive for alcohol problems.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Of 460 participants, 105 (22.8%) were in the cannabis use group. Cannabis users had higher odds of being male (aOR=1.85), unemployed (aOR=1.77), having lower mental health status (aOR=0.82 per unit), reporting sexual abuse history (aOR=2.99), and having positive alcohol screening (aOR=4.23).
Key Numbers
460 participants. 105 (22.8%) were cannabis users. Male: aOR=1.85. Unemployed: aOR=1.77. Sexual abuse history: aOR=2.99. Positive AUDIT screen: aOR=4.23. Lower mental health score: aOR=0.82.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional study of young people aged 16-25 visiting a French urban emergency department for any reason over 5 months. Data included sociodemographics, self-administered substance use screening, and urine drug screening. Cannabis use defined as positive urine screen or self-reported past-month use.
Why This Research Matters
Emergency departments serve as a critical touchpoint for young people who may not engage with traditional addiction or mental health services. Identifying the profile of young cannabis users in this setting can inform targeted screening and brief intervention strategies.
The Bigger Picture
The strong association with sexual abuse history (nearly 3x odds) and alcohol problems (over 4x odds) suggests cannabis use in this young population is embedded in broader psychosocial vulnerability, not isolated substance use.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single ER in France limits generalizability. Cross-sectional design cannot determine causation. Self-reported data alongside urine screening may miss some users. The specific reasons for ER visits were not analyzed.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would ER-based cannabis screening and brief intervention reduce use in this population?
- ?Is the sexual abuse association specific to cannabis or general to substance use?
- ?How do these patterns compare across different countries?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 3x higher odds of cannabis use among those with sexual abuse history
- Evidence Grade:
- Reasonable cross-sectional study with biological confirmation, though single-site and limited to ER attendees.
- Study Age:
- 2024 study
- Original Title:
- Patterns and determinants of cannabis use in youth visiting an urban emergency department in France.
- Published In:
- Journal of addictive diseases, 42(4), 491-499 (2024)
- Authors:
- Touali, Rdah, Chappuy, Mathieu, De Ternay, Julia(2), Berger-Vergiat, Aurélie, Haesebaert, Julie, Tazarourte, Karim, Michel, Philippe, Rolland, Benjamin
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05765
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How common is cannabis use among young ER patients?
In this French study, nearly 23% of young people (16-25) visiting the emergency department for any reason were currently using cannabis.
What factors are linked to cannabis use in young ER patients?
Being male, unemployment, lower mental health, history of sexual abuse (3x odds), and alcohol problems (4x odds) were all significantly associated with cannabis use.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05765APA
Touali, Rdah; Chappuy, Mathieu; De Ternay, Julia; Berger-Vergiat, Aurélie; Haesebaert, Julie; Tazarourte, Karim; Michel, Philippe; Rolland, Benjamin. (2024). Patterns and determinants of cannabis use in youth visiting an urban emergency department in France.. Journal of addictive diseases, 42(4), 491-499. https://doi.org/10.1080/10550887.2023.2279474
MLA
Touali, Rdah, et al. "Patterns and determinants of cannabis use in youth visiting an urban emergency department in France.." Journal of addictive diseases, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/10550887.2023.2279474
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Patterns and determinants of cannabis use in youth visiting ..." RTHC-05765. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/touali-2024-patterns-and-determinants-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.