Readable research linked to original sources
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Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
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Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
Loading articles data…
Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
72 articles
Newest firstBackground Educational attainment (EA), which comprises cognitive (CogEA) and noncognitive (NonCogEA) components, is positively genetically correlated with alcohol and cannabis use but negatively correlated with alcohol and cannabis use disorders (AUD and CUD). These paradoxical associations suggest that shared genetic influences with EA may differ by level of substance involvement. Methods To test this, we examin…
Open article record in new tab ↗BACKGROUND: The United Kingdom legalized medical cannabis in 2018, yet little is known about people using cannabis medically with and without a prescription. This study aimed to estimate: 1) the percentage of people reporting using cannabis medically with and without a prescription; 2) the sources; 3) products used; and 4) associations between frequent product use and medical cannabis status. METHODS: Data were fr…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background In recent decades, the potency of cannabis resin increased globally, raising concerns, as higher potency has been associated with increased risk of psychiatric harms at the individual level. The aim here was to examine whether changes over time in the potency of seized cannabis resin samples were associated with psychiatric harms at the population level. Methods Data on ∆-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) co…
Polysubstance use is increasingly the norm among adolescents who use substances, yet research and clinical frameworks remain concentrated in single-substance models. This narrative conceptual editorial highlights key emerging literature on the conceptual inconsistencies and methodological challenges in polysubstance use research, particularly in the context of shifting cannabis legislation and adolescent vulnerabi…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Romantic relationships are important contexts for substance use and emotional well-being. We tested the hypotheses that (i) genetic predispositions for alcohol consumption would be positively associated with partner substance use, (ii) partner substance use would moderate genetic influences on one's own alcohol outcomes, and (iii) partner discordance in substance use would be associated with lower emoti…
Background Neurodevelopmental models regard impulsivity as a central risk factor for adolescent substance use. However, the practical utility of impulsivity in predicting substance use is complicated by variability among measures that encompass multiple methods and theoretical domains. Prior research has been constrained by cross-sectional designs, small sample sizes, and/or the use of a narrow subset of impulsivi…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background The duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is still considerably long in patients with psychotic disorders worldwide. Social determinants, such as the socioeconomic status, can influence DUP, exacerbating health inequalities in access to timely care. We investigated whether subpopulations with shared characteristics are associated with longer DUP. Methods We performed latent class analyses to investigate…
Background Cannabis is one of the most commonly used drugs globally, although its legal status varies across regions. Public support for its decriminalization has increased, but gaps in our understanding of the health consequences of cannabis use remain, particularly related to its impact on mental health. This article provides an updated systematic review and meta-analysis (previous being Lev-Ran et al., ) lookin…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Adolescence is a key developmental period associated with an increased risk of experiencing cannabis-related problems. Identifying modifiable risk factors prior to the onset of cannabis use could help inform preventative interventions. Method Analysis nested within a UK prospective birth cohort study, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Participants (n = 6,049) provided data on cannabis…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Decades of research have identified a strong association between heavy cannabis use and schizophrenia (SCZ), with evidence of correlated genetic factors. However, many studies on the genetic relationship between cannabis use and psychosis have lacked data on both phenotypes within the same individuals, creating challenges due to unmeasured confounding. We aimed to address this by using multimodal data f…
Background Childhood trauma is a well-established risk factor for psychosis, paranoia, and substance use, with cannabis being a modifiable environmental factor that exacerbates these vulnerabilities. This study examines the interplay between childhood trauma, cannabis use, and paranoia using standard tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) units as a comprehensive measure of cannabis exposure. Methods Data were derived from th…
Background Preexisting epidemiological studies suggest that early pubertal development in males is associated with externalizing (e.g. conduct problems, risky behavior, and aggression) and internalizing (e.g. depression and anxiety) traits and disorders. However, due to problems inherent to observational studies, especially of residual confounding, it remains unclear whether these associations are causal. Mendelia…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background The co-occurrence of cannabis use and internalizing symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, during emerging adulthood (18-25 years) is well documented. However, while bidirectional relationships are often assumed, empirical evidence is mixed. This study investigates bidirectional longitudinal relationships between cannabis frequency and consequences and internalizing symptoms (depressive and anxiety)…
Cannabis use is highly prevalent in people with schizophrenia and is related to adverse clinical outcomes, including relapse and hospitalization. However, the relationship between cannabis and suicide remains inconclusive. This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the relationship between cannabis use and suicide-related outcomes in people with schizophrenia. A comprehensive search of Medline, Emb…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Illicit drug use may lead to dependence on those drugs, is associated with various psychiatric disorders, and can have hazardous, sometimes life-threatening, consequences. We investigated the genetic architecture underlying the lifetime use (LU) of several drugs, individually and in combination. Methods We conducted genome-wide association studies of LU of cocaine, methamphetamine, inhalants, illegal op…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background The use of cannabis in adolescence and early adulthood, critical phases for brain development, is linked to psychotic-like experiences (PLEs). The underlying mechanisms, however, remain unclear. This research examined the relationship between recreational cannabis use and PLEs, emphasizing the connectivity of the salience network (SN), which plays a role in salience processing and psychosis. To determin…
Background Impulsivity is among the strongest correlates of substance involvement (i.e. a broad continuum of substance-related behaviors), and distinct domains (e.g. sensation seeking [SS] and urgency) are differentially correlated, phenotypically and genetically, with unique substance involvement stages. Examining whether polygenic influences for distinct impulsivity domains are differentially predictive of early…
Background This study examines the prospective associations of alcohol and drug misuse with suicidal behaviors among service members who have left active duty. We also evaluate potential moderating effects of other risk factors and whether substance misuse signals increased risk of transitioning from thinking about to attempting suicide. Method US Army veterans and deactivated reservists (N = 6,811) completed surv…
Background Genetic research on nicotine dependence has utilized multiple assessments that are in weak agreement. Methods We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of nicotine dependence defined using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-NicDep) in 61,861 individuals (47,884 of European ancestry [EUR], 10,231 of African ancestry, and 3,746 of East Asian ancestry) and compared the…
Background Genetic and environmental factors, including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), contribute to substance use disorders (SUDs). However, the interactions between these factors are poorly understood. Methods We examined associations between SUD polygenic scores (PGSs), ACEs, and the initiation of use and severity of alcohol (AUD), opioid use disorder (OUD), and cannabis use disorder (CanUD) in 10,275 in…