Is Cannabis Use Treatment Also Indicated for Patients with Low to Moderate Polysubstance Use?

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Background: Polysubstance use (PSU) is common among patients with cannabis use (CU) and is related to more severe CU problems. However, it is unclear how PSU predicts CU treatment outcomes beyond CU patterns. We examined the frequency, amount, and class of additionally used substances as predictors for primary and secondary outcomes. Methods: We conducted crude and adjusted regression analyses for PSU variables as predictors of remission, abstinence, ­reduction, and secondary outcomes in 166 help-seeking ­patients from a randomized clinical trial of CANDIS, a ­cognitive behavioral treatment program. Results: Patients with recent illegal PSU experienced more difficulties in reducing their CU (B = –1.22, p < 0.001). In contrast, remission rates were slightly higher in patients with a wide variety of ­last-year-PSU (RD = 0.04, p < 0.001). Amphetamine use ­predicted poorer outcomes regarding CU-related problems (B = –4.22, p = 0.019), and the use of opiates, inhalants, and dissociative substances predicted poorer physical health outcomes (B = –0.62, p = 0.009; B = –0.96, p = 0.039; B = –1.18, p = 0.007). Conclusions: CU treatment is also effective for patients with moderate PSU. However, treatment effects may be enhanced by addressing specific PSU characteristics as part of a modularized program.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)79-87
Number of pages9
JournalEuropean addiction research
Volume24
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 2018
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85048589238
PubMed 29902799
ORCID /0000-0001-7646-8265/work/142232601

Keywords

Keywords

  • Cannabis use disorder, Treatment outcome, Primary and secondary outcomes, Predictors, Polysubstance use, CANDIS