Medical student, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University; and Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Canada
Nitika Sanger
PhD student, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Canada
Meha Bhatt
Researcher, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University; and Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Canada
Research Assistant, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Canada
David Marsh
Addiction Medicine Specialist, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Laurentian University; and Researcher, Canadian Addiction Treatment Centres, Canada
Lehana Thabane
Professor, Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University; Father Sean O'Sullivan Research Centre, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton; and Researcher, Centre for Evaluation of Medicines, Programs for Assessment of Technology in Health (PATH) Research Institute, McMaster University, Canada
Zainab Samaan
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University; Psychiatrist, Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University; and Researcher, Population Genomics Program, Chanchlani Research Centre, McMaster University, Canada
BackgroundCannabis is the most commonly used substance among patients in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) for opioid use disorder. Current treatment programmes neither screen nor manage cannabis use. The recent legalisation of cannabis in Canada incites consideration into how this may affect the current opioid crisis.AimsInvestigate the health status of cannabis users in MMT.MethodPatients were recruited from addiction clinics in Ontario, Canada. Regression analyses were used to assess the association between adverse health conditions and cannabis use. Further analyses were used to assess sex differences and heaviness of cannabis use.ResultsWe included 672 patients (49.9% cannabis users). Cannabis users were more likely to consume alcohol (odds ratio 1.46, 95% CI 1.04–2.06, P = 0.029) and have anxiety disorders (odds ratio 1.75, 95% CI 1.02–3.02, P = 0.043), but were less likely to use heroin (odds ratio 0.45, 95% CI 0.24–0.86, P = 0.016). There was no association between cannabis use and pain (odds ratio 0.98, 95% CI 0.94–1.03, P = 0.463). A significant association was seen between alcohol and cannabis use in women (odds ratio 1.79, 95% CI 1.06–3.02, P = 0.028), and anxiety disorders and cannabis use in men (odds ratio 2.59, 95% CI 1.21–5.53, P = 0.014). Heaviness of cannabis use was not associated with health outcomes.ConclusionsOur results suggest that cannabis use is common and associated with psychiatric comorbidities and substance use among patients in MMT, advocating for screening of cannabis use in this population.Declaration of interestNone.
