Cannabis-Only Drug Users in the ER Had Less Severe Problems Than Users of Other Drugs
Among 686 ED patients who used drugs, cannabis-only users had lower drug severity scores and fewer psychiatric and alcohol problems than users of other drugs, though 19-29% of cannabis-only users still had problematic use.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Researchers compared three groups among 686 adult emergency department patients who reported drug use: daily cannabis-only users, non-daily cannabis-only users, and users of other drugs.
The three groups did not differ on most demographic factors or medical problem severity, but they differed significantly on substance-related outcomes. Users of drugs other than cannabis had the highest drug severity indicators, more psychiatric problems, and greater alcohol use severity.
However, cannabis-only users were not without problems: 19-29% were identified as having problematic drug use. Daily cannabis-only users fared worse than non-daily users on drug severity and self-efficacy for avoiding drug use.
45% of the entire drug-using ED sample was identified as having a drug use problem, highlighting the ED as an important screening venue.
Key Numbers
686 drug-using ED patients. 45% identified as having a drug use problem. 19-29% of cannabis-only users had problematic use. Other drug users had higher severity scores. Daily cannabis users fared worse than non-daily users on drug severity and self-efficacy.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional study of 686 adult patients at two emergency departments who reported drug use. Groups compared: daily cannabis-only users, non-daily cannabis-only users, and other drug users. Measures included Drug Abuse Screening Test, Addiction Severity Index, psychiatric status, and self-efficacy for drug avoidance.
Why This Research Matters
Emergency departments are increasingly recognized as opportunities for substance use screening and intervention. This study helps clinicians match patients to appropriate care levels: cannabis-only users may benefit from brief interventions focusing on motivation and self-efficacy, while users of other drugs may need referral to specialty treatment.
The Bigger Picture
The ED "teachable moment" concept suggests that medical encounters can be leveraged for substance use intervention. This study provides the differentiation needed to target interventions appropriately: cannabis-only users need different approaches than polysubstance users.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional ED sample may not represent all drug users. Self-reported drug use may be inaccurate in an ED setting. The study was conducted at only two EDs. Cannabis-only status is self-reported and may not be verified by drug testing.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would brief ED-based interventions reduce cannabis use in this population?
- ?Are daily cannabis-only users in the ED an earlier stage of a substance use trajectory that could progress to other drugs?
- ?What intervention approaches best enhance self-efficacy for cannabis-only users?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 19-29% of cannabis-only ED patients had problematic drug use; daily users had lower self-efficacy for avoidance.
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate evidence from a reasonably sized study at two emergency departments with validated substance use measures.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2016. ED-based substance use screening and intervention continues to be developed.
- Original Title:
- Characteristics of Cannabis-Only and Other Drug Users Who Visit the Emergency Department.
- Published In:
- Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 1(1), 149-153 (2016)
- Authors:
- Woodruff, Susan I, McCabe, Cameron T, Hohman, Melinda, Clapp, John D, Shillington, Audrey M, Eisenberg, Kimberly, Sise, C Beth, Castillo, Edward M, Chan, Theodore C, Sise, Michael J
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01309
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Are cannabis-only users at lower risk than other drug users?
In this ED study, cannabis-only users had lower drug severity, fewer psychiatric problems, and less alcohol severity than users of other drugs. However, 19-29% of cannabis-only users still had problematic use, and daily users had particular challenges with self-efficacy for avoiding drug use.
Should emergency departments screen for cannabis use?
This study supports screening, as 45% of drug-using ED patients had identifiable drug problems. Cannabis-only users may benefit from brief motivational interventions, while other drug users may need referral to more intensive treatment.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01309APA
Woodruff, Susan I; McCabe, Cameron T; Hohman, Melinda; Clapp, John D; Shillington, Audrey M; Eisenberg, Kimberly; Sise, C Beth; Castillo, Edward M; Chan, Theodore C; Sise, Michael J. (2016). Characteristics of Cannabis-Only and Other Drug Users Who Visit the Emergency Department.. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 1(1), 149-153.
MLA
Woodruff, Susan I, et al. "Characteristics of Cannabis-Only and Other Drug Users Who Visit the Emergency Department.." Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 2016.
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Characteristics of Cannabis-Only and Other Drug Users Who Vi..." RTHC-01309. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/woodruff-2016-characteristics-of-cannabisonly-and
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.