An epidemiological snapshot of cannabis use and comorbid substance abuse, depression and anxiety in young Romanians

Abstract

Introduction Cannabis consumption among Romanian youth has seen a steady increase in the last couple of decades. Objectives This work attempts to fill the void left by the relative dearth of in-depth research on the subject of cannabis misuse in Romania, which is particularly concerning given the significant connection that exists between anxiety, depression, and cannabis usage. Methods An epidemiological overview of cannabis misuse, mental comorbidities, and other socio-demographic characteristics was outlined through the use of validated self-reported scales on a small sample size (N=125) that was analyzed throughout this research. The purpose of this research was to outline this overview. Results By applying the Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test – Revised (CUDIT-R), Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Scale (AUDIT), Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the study’s results are as follows: although 48% of participants have tried cannabis, about a third (32%) have used it in the last 6 months. Among this sub-group, 40% presented scores that suggest Cannabis Use Disorder according to the DSM-V definition. Almost half (47%) percent of cannabis users had clinically significant scores for depression and anxiety, as opposed to 21% of non-users. Consumption of cannabis was more likely to be associated with alcohol abuse (63%) and nicotine dependence (85%). While students were equally represented among users and non-users; male gender and the unemployed were overly-represented. Interestingly, there was no correlation between relationship status and cannabis consumption. Conclusions In conclusion, this study’s results are in line with most epidemiological literature regarding cannabis and can serve as a starting point for deeper, more analytical investigations of cannabis use in Romania. Disclosure of Interest None Declared