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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.
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Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
38 articles
Newest firstPolysubstance 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 Most substance users are polysubstance users; however, little is known about how the combined use of different drugs affects the course of substance use disorder or effectiveness of treatment. Notably, co-use of cannabis and nicotine is very common, and we previously demonstrated that nicotine enhances the self-administration of a synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist and the primary psychoactive phyto…
Background Polysubstance use contributes substantially to substance-related morbidity and mortality in Canada, yet contemporary population-level estimates of alcohol-involved polysubstance use are limited. We estimated national prevalence patterns and examined associations with self-reported harms using 2023 Canadian Substance Use Survey (CSUS) data. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the 2023 CSUS…
Open article record in new tab ↗Objectives Cannabis is often used alongside other substances, including cigarettes and alcohol. The objective of this study was to identify how the combination of these substances may affect sleep health. Methods Data from an online, national survey of 518 adults (35.2 ± 13.4 years old; 65% female) were analyzed. Respondents reported their cannabis, cigarette, and alcohol use. Hazardous cannabis use was assessed u…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Alcohol-induced blackouts (AIBs) are a serious consequence of alcohol use that are strongly associated with experiencing excess alcohol-related harms. AIBs are common and recurrent among young adults who drink. The risk factors for AIBs include dynamics of alcohol use (quantity, speed, duration), alcohol-related behaviors (eg, playing drinking games, not using protective behavioral strategies), and fact…
Background Cannabis use is common among persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, PLWH) and has been associated with disrupted sleep, psychiatric symptoms, and increased healthcare utilization. However, the influence of concurrent cocaine and cannabis use on symptom trajectories and healthcare engagement remains unclear. Methods One hundred nineteen PLWH who reported daily cannabis use were assessed l…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Research is limited regarding the relationship between adolescent substance use and polysubstance use (SU/PSU) as well as their outcomes later in adolescence, while accounting for early risk factors. This study explored substance-related and psychosocial outcomes at age 17 associated with SU/PSU developmental trajectories in a population-representative cohort from Quebec, Canada (N = 1593; 48.4% male),…
Background/objectives Nitrous oxide (N2O), commonly known as laughing gas, is increasingly being used recreationally. While neurological risks are recognized, psychiatric effects remain underexplored. This study investigates neuropsychiatric presentations among patients referred to the Emergency Mental Health (EMH) team at Sunshine Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, associated with recreational N2O use. Methods We co…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Methamphetamine use, which is disproportionately prevalent among people with HIV, increases risk for cardio- and neurovascular pathology through persistent immune activation and inflammation. Preclinical studies indicate that cannabinoids may reduce markers of pro-inflammatory processes, but data from people with chronic inflammatory conditions are limited. We examined potentially interacting associatio…
Background Substance use among adolescents is strongly associated with adverse physical, mental health, and social outcomes. Prevention and early intervention can reduce the likelihood of future problems, but requires valid and reliable screening tools capable of assessing risk across a range of substances. This study assessed the validity, reliability, and clinical utility of the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance In…
Chronic pain affects over 20% of the global population and contributes to the vast burden of psychiatric illness. While effective treatments for chronic pain remain limited, both alcohol and cannabis have been used for centuries to manage pain and closely associated negative affective symptoms. However, persistent misuse of alcohol and/or cannabis in such a negative reinforcement fashion is hypothesized to increas…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Substance use is a serious public health concern and young adults in India often use multiple substances, often together. There is a dearth of research examining this and its neuropsychological consequences. Polysubstance use (PSU) usually indicates higher chances of dependence and negative outcomes. This study aims to describe the patterns of PSU and associated executive function profiles in a sample o…
Open article record in new tab ↗Polysubstance use (PSU) involving marijuana among women of reproductive age (WRA) is linked to psychosocial harm, yet research on the combined effects of marijuana with stimulants, opioids, tobacco, and binge drinking remains limited. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of PSU in WRA with past month MJ use and examine the association between PSU status and social sequelae, including getting in t…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Most substance users are polysubstance users; however, little is known about how the combined use of different drugs affects the course of substance use disorder or effectiveness of treatment. Notably, co-use of cannabis and nicotine is very common, and we previously demonstrated that nicotine enhances the self-administration of a synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist and the primary psychoactive phyto…
Open article record in new tab ↗Aims To provide a model for using Multidimensional Growth Mixture Models to identify trajectories of polyuse through investigating transitions between conjoint substance use trajectories from adolescence into young adulthood and examining potential moderators that may promote transitions into healthier substance use trajectories in adulthood. Design Longitudinal mixture modeling of six waves of data in adolescence…
Background Polysubstance use is a highly prevalent public health issue, particularly among adolescents, and decisions on prevention programming and policies are often made at the local level. While there is a growing literature examining patterns of polysubstance use among adolescents, little is known about differences in those patterns across geographic regions. Methods Using a large, representative sample of hig…
Polysubstance use is prevalent among individuals on opioid agonist treatment (OAT), yet past studies have focused primarily on distinct substances and their association with OAT retention. Data was collected from two prospective cohorts between 2005 and 2020 in Vancouver, Canada. Among 13,596 visits contributed by 1445 participants receiving OAT, we employed repeated measures latent class analysis using seven indi…
Background Most studies examining the simultaneous use of cannabis with other drugs have focused on cannabis and alcohol, with fewer studies examining simultaneous use of cannabis with other drugs. The United States is currently experiencing an upward trend in psychedelic use and there is an increasing need to characterize cannabis and psychedelic drug interactions to best inform public health recommendations. Mat…
Open article record in new tab ↗BackgroundIllicit substance use has constantly evolved over the years, particularly in the party scene. Monitoring these changes is essential to adapt harm reduction strategies. The OCTOPUS survey was implemented to enhance knowledge on drug use at music festivals. The objective of the work presented here was to describe drug use and to characterize profiles of substance use in music festival attendees.MethodsOCTO…
Open article record in new tab ↗Objective: Methamphetamine and cannabis are two widely used substances among people living with HIV (PLWH). Whereas methamphetamine use has been found to worsen HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment, the effects of combined cannabis and methamphetamine use disorder on neurocognition in PLWH are not understood. In the present study, we aimed to determine the influence of these substance use disorders on neurocog…
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