Cannabis consumption in the United States continues to increase very year due to a litany of factors including decriminalization, increased accessibility, perceived health benefits, and lower perceived health consequences. Among all age groups, the young adult demographic continues to lead in cannabis usage rates. As more and more people use cannabis, it is important to understand the factors that influence use, as well as the potential health consequences that may impact users. Psychiatric consequences of cannabis use have been well documented in adult users, with increased risk of psychosis and depression exacerbation being consistent findings in the existing literature. This study examined the motivations of cannabis use in a sample of young adults who received treated for a variety of illnesses in an outpatient psychiatric clinic.
The study’s sample is composed of 15 patients invited to participate from an outpatient psychiatric care clinic in Rhode Island (N=15, age range= 20-26 yrs., mean age= 22.4 yrs., 53.3% female, 73.3% white). The participants completed qualitative semi-structured interviews intended to examine participants beliefs concerning cannabis use motives, attenuation mechanisms, cannabis use perceptions of friends/family, cannabis perceptions of healthcare providers, cannabis effects on mental and physical health, and cannabis use reduction strategies/recommendations. The interview transcripts were coded by two research team members, and the qualitative data was analyzed using NVivo Version 12.
Results of the analysis found all participants used cannabis weekly, with 60% reporting daily consumption. Eight themes, grouped into “foci”, were found in the qualitative assessment of the interviews. The first theme indicated that participants used cannabis to self-medicate according to their psychiatric needs, and that cannabis use was perceived to be safer than their prescribed medications. The second indicated that most participants reported that their corresponding healthcare provider(s) held overall indifferent perceptions concerning the use of cannabis, even considering the patients’ psychiatric diagnoses. A third theme stated that cannabis use was less stigmatized and more normalized in society, and that close friends and family members did not hold judgments, but rather maintained a supportive attitude regarding cannabis use in these patients. Additional themes were centered around the notion that patients did not believe cannabis was a long-term solution, moderation of use was of high importance, and that reduction strategies should involve mindfulness and protective behavioral strategies.
Takeaway: cannabis use may often occur for a variety of reasons in individuals receiving psychiatric care. Intentions may include self-treatment and alternative therapy utilization due to the side effects and varying efficacies of prescription medications from patient-to patient. The study suggests that cannabis use among psychiatric care patients is highly nuanced and in need of additional research.