Browsing by Subject "cannabis"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Cannabis Use and Heart Transplantation: Disparities and Opportunities to Improve Outcomes
    (American Heart Association, 2022-10-14) Ilonze, Onyedika J.; Vidot, Denise C.; Breathett, Khadijah; Camacho-Rivera, Marlene; Raman, Subha V.; Kobashigawa, Jon A.; Allen, Larry A.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Heart transplantation (HT) remains the optimal therapy for many patients with advanced heart failure. Use of substances of potential abuse has historically been a contraindication to HT. Decriminalization of cannabis, increasing cannabis use, clinician biases, and lack of consensus for evaluating patients with heart failure who use cannabis all have the potential to exacerbate racial and ethnic and regional disparities in HT listing and organ allocation. Here' we review pertinent pre-HT and post-HT considerations related to cannabis use' and relative attitudes between opiates and cannabis are offered for context. We conclude with identifying unmet research needs pertaining to the use of cannabis in HT that can inform a standardized evaluation process.
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    Disturbances of postural sway components in cannabis users
    (Elsevier, 2018-09) Bolbecker, Amanda R.; Apthorp, Deborah; Martin, Ashley Schanakenberg; Tahayori, Behdad; Moravec, Leah; Gomez, Karen L.; O'Donnell, Brian F.; Newman, Sharlene D.; Hetrick, William P.; Psychiatry, School of Medicine
    Introduction A prominent effect of acute cannabis use is impaired motor coordination and driving performance. However, few studies have evaluated balance in chronic cannabis users, even though density of the CB1 receptor, which mediates the psychoactive effects of cannabis, is extremely high in brain regions critically involved in this fundamental behavior. The present study measured postural sway in regular cannabis users and used rambling and trembling analysis to quantify the integrity of central and peripheral nervous system contributions to the sway signal. Methods Postural sway was measured in 42 regular cannabis users (CB group) and 36 non-cannabis users (N-CB group) by asking participants to stand as still as possible on a force platform in the presence and absence of motor and sensory challenges. Center of pressure (COP) path length was measured, and the COP signal was decomposed into rambling and trembling components. Exploratory correlational analyses were conducted between sway variables, cannabis use history, and neurocognitive function. Results The CB group had significantly increased path length and increased trembling in the anterior-posterior (AP) direction. Exploratory correlational analyses suggested that AP rambling was significantly inversely associated with visuo-motor processing speed. Discussion Regular cannabis use is associated with increased postural sway, and this appears to be predominantly due to the trembling component, which is believed to reflect the peripheral nervous system’s contribution to the sway signal.
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    Marijuana Use in Indiana: A Look at Cannabis Laws in and around Indiana
    (Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, 2020-04) Gutta, Jyotsna; Greene, Marion
    Though under federal law marijuana is still considered an illicit drug, many states have enacted policies decriminalizing and/or legalizing marijuana to some degree. In 14 states (including Indiana), possession, use, cultivation, sale or distribution of marijuana is illegal. Indiana is bordered by states with varying marijuana policies: Kentucky (illegal), Ohio (medical use), and Michigan and Illinois (medical and recreational use). One emerging trend of concern is the use of marijuana products (THC) in e-cigarettes, especially among young people.
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    The positive link between executive function and lifetime cannabis use in schizophrenia is not explained by current levels of superior social cognition
    (Elsevier, 2017-04) Helle, Siri; Løberg, Else-Marie; Gjestad, Rolf; Martin, Ashley M. Schnakenberg; Lysaker, Paul H.; Department of Psychiatry, IU School of Medicine
    There has been a growing link between a history of cannabis use and neurocognitive performance in patients with schizophrenia. Fewer neurocognitive deficits may be a marker of the superior social cognition needed to obtain illicit substances, or cannabis use may indicate a distinct path to schizophrenia with less neurocognitive vulnerability. This study sought to determine whether the relationship of cannabis use and executive function exists independently of social cognition. Eighty-seven patients with schizophrenia were administered measures of social cognition and executive function. Social cognition was assessed using the Bell-Lysaker Emotion Recognition Test to measure affect recognition, and the Eyes and Hinting Tests to measure theory of mind. Executive function was assessed by the Mental Flexibility component of the Delis-Kaplan Executive Functioning Scale. The relations between the variables were examined with structural equation modeling. Cannabis use positively related to executive function, negatively related to affect recognition, and had no relationship with theory of mind. There were no indirect effects of other illicit substances on amount of regular cannabis use. Alcohol use was related to worse affect recognition. The relationship between cannabis use and better executive function was supported and was not explained by superior social cognition
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    ssociations of Parental Alcohol Use Disorders and Parental Separation with Offspring Initiation of Alcohol, Cigarette, and Cannabis Use and Sexual Debut in High-Risk Families
    (Wiley, 2017) McCutcheon, Vivia V.; Agrawal, Arpana; Kuo, Sally I-Chun; Su, Jinni; Dick, Danielle M.; Meyers, Jacquelyn L.; Edenberg, Howard J.; Nurnberger, John I.; Kramer, John R.; Kuperman, Samuel; Schuckit, Marc A.; Hesselbrock, Victor M.; Brooks, Andrew; Porjesz, Bernice; Bucholz, Kathleen K.; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine
    Background and Aims Parental alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and parental separation are associated with increased risk for early use of alcohol in offspring, but whether they increase risks for early use of other substances and for early sexual debut is under-studied. We focused on associations of parental AUDs and parental separation with substance initiation and sexual debut to (1) test the strength of the associations of parental AUDs and parental separation with time to initiation (age in years) of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use and sexual debut and (2) compare the strength of association of parental AUD and parental separation with initiation. Design Prospective adolescent and young adult cohort of a high-risk family study, the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA). Setting Six sites in the United States. Participants A total of 3257 offspring (aged 14–33 years) first assessed in 2004 and sought for interview approximately every 2 years thereafter; 1945 (59.7%) offspring had a parent with an AUD. Measurements Diagnostic interview data on offspring substance use and sexual debut were based on first report of these experiences. Parental life-time AUD was based on their own self-report when parents were interviewed (1991–2005) for most parents, or on offspring and other family member reports for parents who were not interviewed. Parental separation was based on offspring reports of not living with both biological parents most of the time between ages 12 and 17 years. Findings Parental AUDs were associated with increased hazards for all outcomes, with cumulative hazards ranging from 1.19 to 2.71. Parental separation was also an independent and consistent predictor of early substance use and sexual debut, with hazards ranging from 1.19 to 2.34. The strength of association of parental separation with substance initiation was equal to that of having two AUD-affected parents, and its association with sexual debut was stronger than the association of parental AUD in one or both parents. Conclusions Parental alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and parental separation are independent and consistent predictors of increased risk for early alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use and sexual debut in offspring from families with a high risk of parental AUDs.
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    UPPS-P Model Impulsivity and Marijuana Use Behaviors in Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis
    (Elsevier, 2016-11) VanderVeen, J. Davis; Hershberger, Alexandra R.; Cyders, Melissa A.; Department of Psychology, School of Science
    Background Impulsivity is often included as a risk factor in models of adolescent marijuana use behaviors; however, the magnitude of the association between impulsivity and marijuana use behaviors is variable across studies. The present study reviewed existent literature to 1) quantify the relationship between separable impulsivity-related traits and both marijuana use and negative marijuana consequences and 2) quantify the size of the effect of gender on these relationships. Method Thirty-eight studies (41 independent samples) were meta-analyzed using a random effects model to examine the relationship between impulsivity traits and marijuana use behaviors. Results Marijuana use was significantly related to all impulsivity-related traits except lack of perseverance (r’s ranging from 0.13–0.23, p’s < 0.01). Negative marijuana consequences were only significantly related to sensation seeking, lack of planning, and positive urgency (r’s ranging from 0.37–0.39, p’s < 0.01). Effects were small for marijuana use, but medium for negative marijuana consequences. Gender was not a significant moderator of any relationships. Conclusions Impulsivity-related traits had more robust relationships with negative marijuana consequences than marijuana use, suggesting impulsivity-related traits are important in differentiating adolescents most likely to experience negative consequences from marijuana use. Few relationships examined gender and many of the impulsivity-related traits, other than sensation seeking. Data and trends suggest a more multi-dimensional approach to marijuana use and consequences is warranted.
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    URINE THC METABOLITE LEVELS CORRELATE WITH STRIATAL D2/D3 RECEPTOR AVAILABILITY
    (Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, 2012-04-13) Albrecht, Daniel S.; Skosnik, Patrick D.; Vollmer, Jennifer M.; Brumbaugh, Margaret S.; Perry, Kevin M.; Zheng, Qi-Huang; Federici, Lauren A.; Patton, Elizabeth A.; Herring, Christine M.; Yoder, Karmen K.
    Rationale: Although the incidence of cannabis abuse/dependence in Americans is rising, the neurobiology of cannabis addiction is not well understood. Previous PET and SPECT studies have demonstrated deficits in striatal D2/D3 receptor availability in several substance-dependent populations. However, this has not been studied in chronic cannabis users. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare striatal D2/D3 receptor availability between currently-using chronic cannabis users and healthy controls. Methods: Eighteen right-handed males, 18-34 years of age, were studied. Ten subjects were chronic cannabis users; eight were demographically matched controls. Subjects underwent a [11C]raclopride (RAC) PET scan. On the scan day, urine samples were obtained from cannabis users for quantification of urine Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC; the active compound in cannabis smoke) and THC metabolites (11-nor-Δ-9-THC-9-carboxylic acid and 11-hydroxy-THC). Striatal RAC binding potential (BPND) was used as an index of D2/D3 receptor availability; this parameter was estimated at each image voxel for every subject. SPM5 software was used to test for differences in BPND between groups and, in cannabis subjects, for associations between BPND and markers of cannabis use. Results: There were no differences in D2/D3 receptor availability between cannabis users and controls. Smokers of either cannabis and/or tobacco had 10.2% lower BPND values than nonsmokers in the bilateral putamen (“any-smokers”: 2.66 ± 0.2; nonsmokers: 2.97 ± 0.2). In cannabis users, RAC BPND values were negatively associated with both urine levels of cannabis metabolites and self-report of recent cannabis consumption. Conclusions: There is an inverse relationship between chronic cannabis use and striatal RAC BPND. This may be caused by inhibition of monoamine oxidase (MAO) by the pyrolyzation of cannabis, which could lead to increased endogenous dopamine levels (and hence, lower BPND in heavier users). Additional studies are needed to identify the neurochemical consequences of chronic cannabis use on the dopamine system.