Cannabis use, mental health, and problematic Internet use in Quebec: A study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Problematic Internet use is characterized by excessive use of online platforms that can result in social isolation, family problems, psychological distress, and even suicide. Problematic Internet use has been associated with cannabis use disorder, however knowledge on the adult population remains limited. In Quebec, cannabis use has significatively increased since 2018, and it is associated with various risks in public safety, public health, and mental health. This study aims to identify factors associated with problematic Internet use among adult cannabis users and to better understand their experiences. METHOD: This project is a mixed explanatory sequential study consisting of two phases. Phase 1 (n = 1500) will be a cross-sectional correlational study using probability sampling to examine variables that predispose individuals to problematic Internet use, characteristics associated with cannabis use, Internet use, and the mental health profile of adult cannabis users in Quebec. Descriptive analyses and regression models will be used to determine the relationship between cannabis use and Internet use. Phase 2 (n = 45) will be a descriptive qualitative study in the form of semi-structured interviews aimed at better understanding the experience and background of cannabis users with probable problematic Internet use. DISCUSSION: The results of this study will support the development of public policies and interventions for the targeted population, by formulating courses of action that contribute to the prevention and reduction of harms associated with cannabis use and problematic Internet use. Furthermore, an integrated knowledge mobilization plan will aid in the large-scale dissemination of information that can result useful to decision-makers, practitioners, members of the scientific community, and the general population regarding the use of cannabis and the Internet.

A call for qualitative and mixed-methods research on gambling and cannabis.

Gambling disorder and cannabis use disorder are both considered major public health issues. Despite the well-documented frequency of substance use disorders among people with gambling disorder, little is known about the experiences of those who both engage with gambling and cannabis. A scoping review was undertaken to investigate studies focusing on the experiences of people who gamble and use cannabis. Unexpectedly, no qualitative or mixed-methods studies that included an in-depth qualitative component to study the lived experiences of this population were found. This absence highlights the critical need to diversify research methods and fill the gap in knowledge of the lived experiences of people who both gamble and consume cannabis.

[Clinical profile of adolescents being treated for problematic internet use]. / Portrait Clinique des Adolescents en Traitement Pour une Utilisation Problématique d'Internet.

OBJECTIVES: This study highlights the clinical profile of adolescents having consulted with an addiction treatment center (ATC) in Québec for a problematic internet use (PIU) to develop knowledge about these specific clients and precisely target their needs relative to treatment. METHOD: The study was conducted with 80 adolescents between ages 14 and 17 (M = 15.59) who had consulted with an ACT for a PIU. Adolescents have participated in an interview documenting internet use patterns and their consequences, mental health disorder co-occurrence, and family and social relationships. RESULTS: The sample was constituted of 75 boys (93.8%) and 5 girls (6.3%), who spent an average of 55.8 hours (SD = 27.22) per week on internet for non-school or professional activities. Almost all of these youths (97.5%) presented a co-occurring mental health disorder, and more than 70% had seeked help last year for a psychological problem. Results show that 92.6% feel their internet use significantly hinders their family relationships, and 50% feel it impedes their social relationships. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the multiple difficulties experienced by adolescents in need of a treatment for their PIU. The presence of co-occurring mental health disorders and relational difficulties among them underlines the need to develop and implement in ACTs integrated assessments and treatments that target not only online activities, but also all of life domains that can be affected by PIU. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: - PIU adolescents are mainly boys who report problematic use of video games. - Almost all young people who consult for PIU have comorbid mental health problems and difficulties in their relation. - The study highlights the need to offer to this clientele an integrated assessment and treatment services that target all areas of their lives who are likely to be affected, to contribute or maintain the PIU. LIMITATIONS: - This study was conducted with a convenience sample and the results are representative of young people who have visited a treatment center for addiction. The generalization of results to all adolescents with PIU is limited. - Considering that PIU are subject to cultural influence, the scope of this study is limited to populations living in a culture similar to that of Quebec and Canada.

OBJECTIFS: La présente étude dresse le profil clinique des adolescents ayant consulté un centre de traitement de la dépendance (CTD) au Québec en raison d'une utilisation problématique d'Internet (UPI) afin de développer les connaissances sur cette clientèle spécifique et de cibler avec justesse leurs besoins par rapport au traitement. MÉTHODE: L'étude est réalisée auprès de 80 adolescents âgés entre 14 et 17 ans (M = 15,59) ayant consulté un CTD pour une UPI. Les adolescents ont pris part à une entrevue qui documente les habitudes d'utilisation d'Internet et leurs conséquences, la concomitance de troubles de santé mentale, ainsi que les relations familiales et sociales. RÉSULTATS: L'échantillon est composé de 75 garçons (93,8%) et de 5 filles (6,3%), qui passaient en moyenne 55,8 heures (ET = 27,22) par semaine sur Internet pour des activités non-scolaires ou professionnelle. Près de la totalité de ces jeunes (97,5%) présente un trouble de santé mentale en concomitance et plus de 70% ont consulté dans la dernière année pour un problème psychologique. Les résultats indiquent que 92,6% estiment que leur utilisation d'internet nuit significativement à leur relation familiale et 50% à leurs relations sociales. CONCLUSIONS: Cette étude révèle les nombreuses difficultés vécues par les adolescents requérants un traitement pour leur UPI. La présence de troubles de santé mentale concomitants et de difficultés relationnelles chez ceux-ci renvoie à la nécessité de développer et implanter dans les CTD des évaluations et traitements intégrés qui ciblent non seulement les activités en ligne, mais également l'ensemble des sphères de vie pouvant être affectée par l'UPI. IMPLICATIONS CLINIQUES: ­ Les adolescents consultants pour l'UPI sont principalement des garçons qui rapportent une utilisation problématique des jeux vidéo. ­ La quasi-totalité des jeunes qui consultent pour l'UPI a en concomitance de problèmes de santé mentale et des difficultés sur le plan relationnel ­ L'étude met en évidence la nécessité d'offrir à cette clientèle des services d'évaluation et de traitement intégrés qui ciblent toutes les sphères de leur vie sont susceptibles d'être affectée, de contribuer ou de maintenir l'UPI. LIMITES: ­ Cette étude est réalisée auprès d'un échantillon de convenance et les résultats sont représentatifs des jeunes ayant consulté un centre de traitement pour la dépendance; la généralisation des résultats à l'ensemble des adolescents présentant une UPI est limitée. ­ Considérant que les manifestations de l'UPI sont sujettes à une influence culturelle, la portée de la présente étude se limite aux populations qui vivent dans une culture similaire à celle du Québec et du Canada.

Gender Difference in Internet Use and Internet Problems among Quebec High School Students.

OBJECTIVES: There are presently no data available concerning Internet addiction (IA) problems among adolescents in Canada and the province of Quebec. The goal of this study is thus to document and compare the influence of gender on Internet use and addiction. METHOD: The study data were collected from a larger research project on gambling among adolescents. Activities conducted online (applications used and time spent) as well as answers to the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) were collected from 3938 adolescents from grades 9 to 11. The two most often employed cut-off points for the IAT in the literature were documented: (40-69 and 70+) and (50+). RESULTS: Boys spent significantly more time on the Internet than did girls. A greater proportion of the girls made intense use of social networks, whereas a greater proportion of the boys made intense use of massively multiplayer online role-playing games, online games, and adult sites. The proportion of adolescents with a potential IA problem varied according to the cut-off employed. When the cut-off was set at 70+, 1.3% of the adolescents were considered to have an IA, while 41.7% were seen to be at risk. At a 50+ cut-off, 18% of the adolescents were considered to have a problem. There was no significant difference between the genders concerning the proportion of adolescents considered to be at risk or presenting IA problems. Finally, analysis of the percentile ranks would seem to show that a cut-off of 50+ better describes the category of young people at risk. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study make it possible to document Internet use and IA in a large number of Quebec adolescents.