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Abstract Objectives To evaluate the relationship between age at onset of cannabis use and cannabis abuse in a sample of Portuguese cannabis users, testing the mediating role of the number of friends using cannabis and comparing these relationships between male and female subsets. Method A sample of 529 Portuguese cannabis users comprising 276 males and 244 females aged from 14 to 21 years completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST), and answered four questions related to cannabis use. Data were analyzed using the PROCESS macro in SPSS version 26.0. Results Age at onset of cannabis use was negatively related to the number of friends using cannabis, while the number of friends using cannabis had a positive relationship with cannabis abuse. As predicted, the number of friends using cannabis seems to have a mediating role in the relationship between cannabis onset age use and cannabis abuse, since the indirect effect was found to be significant. The pattern of the relationships among the variables observed was found to be similar for both male and female subsets of the sample. However, males reported higher cannabis abuse than females. Conclusion The results highlight the mediating role of friends' use of cannabis in the relationship between age at onset of cannabis use and users' abuse. These results highlight the importance of early intervention in cannabis use. In particular, the pattern of the relationships observed among the studied variables emphasizes the need to monitor and conduct peer training interventions or interventions to promote of social skills.
ABSTRACT
Resumen INTRODUCCIÓN: El cannabis se erige como la droga ilícita más consumida en el mundo. Actualmente no existen alternativas farmacológicas específicas para el tratamiento de su adicción, por lo que se ha postulado la utilidad del uso de cannabinoides como herramienta terapéutica. Ellos actuarían principalmente a través de la disminución de síntomas de abstinencia y craving (deseo o compulsión por consumir), pero su efectividad aún no está clara. MÉTODOS: Para responder esta pregunta utilizamos Epistemonikos, la mayor base de datos de revisiones sistemáticas en salud a nivel mundial, la cual es mantenida mediante búsquedas en múltiples fuentes de información, incluyendo MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, entre otras. Extrajimos los datos desde las revisiones identificadas, reanalizamos los datos de los estudios primarios, realizamos un metanálisis y preparamos una tabla de resumen de los resultados utilizando el método GRADE. RESULTADOS Y CONCLUSIONES: Identificamos siete revisiones sistemáticas que en conjunto incluyeron 15 estudios primarios, de los cuales cuatro corresponden a ensayos aleatorizados. Concluimos que el uso de cannabinoides podría resultar en poco o nulo aumento en la abstinencia al finalizar el tratamiento, y probablemente aumenta los efectos adversos.
Abstract INTRODUCTION: Cannabis stands as the most used illegal drug in the world. Currently there are no pharmacologic alternatives to treat its addiction, so the use of Cannabinoids has been postulated as a therapeutic tool. They would act mainly through decrease in abstinence and craving symptoms but its effectiveness remains unclear. METHODS: To answer this question we used Epistemonikos, the largest database of systematic reviews in health, which is maintained by screening multiple information sources, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, among others. We extracted data from the systematic reviews, reanalyzed data of primary studies, conducted a meta-analysis and generated a summary of findings table using the GRADE approach. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: We identified seven systematic reviews including 15 studies, of which four were randomized trials. We concluded the use of cannabinoids might result in little or no increase in abstinence at the end of treatment, and it probably increases adverse effects.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cannabinoids/therapeutic use , Marijuana Abuse/drug therapy , Cannabinoids/adverse effects , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Databases, Factual , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Abstract Background The first case report on the Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) was registered in 2004. Years later, other research groups complemented the description of CHS, adding that it was associated with such behaviors as chronic cannabis abuse, acute episodes of nausea, intractable vomiting, abdominal pain and compulsive hot baths, which ceased when cannabis use was stopped. Objective To provide a brief review of CHS and report the first documented case of CHS in Mexico. Method Through a systematic search in PUBMED from 2004 to 2016, a brief review of CHS was integrated. For the second objective, CARE clinical case reporting guidelines were used to register and manage a patient with CHS at a high specialty general hospital. Results Until December 2016, a total of 89 cases had been reported worldwide, although none from Latin American countries. Discussion and conclusions Despite the cases reported in the scientific literature, experts have yet to achieve a comprehensive consensus on CHS etiology, diagnosis and treatment. The lack of a comprehensive, standardized CHS algorithm increases the likelihood of malpractice, in addition to contributing to the patient's biopsychosocial deterioration and raising care costs.
Resumen Antecedentes En 2004 se registró el primer reporte de caso del Síndrome de hiperémesis cannabiniode (SHC). Años más tarde, otros grupos de investigación fueron complementando su descripción, añadiendo que éste se asociaba a comportamientos como: consumo crónico y abusivo de cannabis, episodios agudos de náuseas, vómito incontrolable, dolor abdominal, baños compulsivos de agua caliente, que remitían tras el cese del consumo de cannabis. Objetivo Presentar una breve revisión del SHC y presentar el primer caso documentado en México. Método Mediante una búsqueda sistematizada en PUBMED entre 2004 y 2016, se integró una breve revisión del SHC. Para el segundo objetivo, se utilizó la guía de reporte de casos CARE para registrar y manejar a un paciente con SHC en un hospital general de alta especialidad. Resultados Hasta diciembre de 2016 se había registrado un total de 89 casos en todo el mundo, aunque ninguno en América Latina. Discusión y conclusiones A pesar de los casos reportados en la literatura científica, aún no existe un consenso de expertos más completo sobre la etiología, el diagnóstico y el tratamiento del SHC. Asimismo la ausencia de un algoritmo integral y estandarizado aumenta la probabilidad de mala praxis, además de incrementar el deterioro biopsicosocial del paciente e incrementar el costo de la atención.