Cannabis Use Among Individuals Treated with Medication for Opioid Use Disorder: Correlates, Patterns, and Motivations for Use
| Journal | Substance use & addiction journal |
| Study Type | Randomized Trial |
| Population | Human participants |
This item covers developments relevant to cannabis medicine and clinical practice. Clinicians monitoring evidence in this area should review the source material.
Cannabis use is prevalent among patients receiving medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). However, little is known about factors associated with frequent cannabis use. To describe correlates, patterns, and motivations for cannabis use among individuals treated with MOUD. Participants from a randomized trial (n = 303) investigating a mind-body intervention adjunct to MOUD were compared based on frequent cannabis use (≥3 days/week) versus less frequent or no use, assessing demographic and clinical characteristics. Individuals with frequent cannabis use were invited to participate in a telephone survey exploring reasons for cannabis use, cannabis usage in treating symptoms/conditions, route, tetrahydrocannabinol/cannabidiol content, and cannabis use disorder screening. 47.5% of participants (n = 144) endorsed cannabis use, and 27% used cannabis frequently (≥3 days/week). Frequent cannabis use was associated with anxiety (Frequent cannabis use among individuals on MOUD was associated
“This is a development worth tracking. The clinical implications will become clearer as more evidence accumulates.”
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FAQ
How common was cannabis use among people receiving medication for opioid use disorder?
In this study of 303 participants, 47.5% (144 people) reported cannabis use, and 27% used cannabis frequently, defined as 3 or more days per week. The summary notes that cannabis use is prevalent among patients receiving medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), but little is known about the factors tied to frequent use.
Where did the participants in this MOUD cannabis study come from?
Participants came from a randomized trial of 303 people testing a mind-body intervention added to medication for opioid use disorder. For this analysis, researchers compared people with frequent cannabis use against those with less frequent or no use, looking at demographic and clinical characteristics.
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