Impulsivity,Sensation-Seeking,and Part-Time Job Status in Relation to Substance Use and Gambling in Adolescents

PurposeAlthough impulsivity, sensation-seeking, and part-time employment have each been linked to risky behaviors in adolescents, their inter-relationships are less well-understood. We examined data from adolescents to assess the following predictions: (1) sensation-seeking would relate closely to substance use and gambling; (2) impulsivity would relate closely to alcohol, drug, and gambling problems; and (3) these relationships would be particularly strong among those holding part-time jobs.MethodHigh-school students (N = 3,106) were surveyed to provide data on impulsivity, sensation-seeking, and part-time job status. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine relationships with gambling, substance use (i.e., alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana) and related problems.ResultsBoth impulsivity and sensation-seeking related significantly to substance use and impulsivity to gambling. Impulsivity had stronger associations with drug and gambling problems than sensation-seeking did. Students with paid part-time jobs were more likely to drink alcohol, binge drink, and use marijuana. Sensation-seeking had a particularly strong relationship to heavy cigarette smoking among students with part-time jobs. Conversely, there was little relationship between part-time job status and smoking among low sensation-seekers.ConclusionsThese findings further support the relevance of sensation-seeking, impulsivity, and part-time job status to risky behaviors among adolescents. Sensation-seeking and impulsivity had unique relationships to risky behaviors, in accordance with theory and prior evidence. Impulsive adolescents may be in particular need for interventions to reduce drug use and gambling. Although part-time jobs can be beneficial, parents and caregivers should be mindful of potential negative ramifications of paid work outside the home.     

Developmental pathways of adolescent cannabis use: Risk factors,outcomes and sex-specific differences

Background: Characterizing patterns of adolescent cannabis use (CU), as well as risk factors and outcomes uniquely associated with these pathways is essential for informing treatment and prevention efforts. Yet, few studies have examined these issues among youth at-risk of engaging in problematic cannabis use. Further, research accounting for use of other substances or sex differences in patterns of CU remains exceedingly sparse. Methods: Trajectory-based modeling was used to identify underlying CU pathways among a predominantly Hispanic (90%) sample of at-risk youth (n?=?401; 46% female) across adolescence (ages～14–18), controlling for baseline substance use and participant demographics. Adolescent psychopathology (i.e., conduct disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, and depression) was examined as a predictor and outcome of CU. Results: Three trajectories of adolescent CU were identified, with most youth (74%) engaging in relatively “low” levels of use, followed by ～12% exhibiting an early-initiating “chronic” course, and 14% “escalating” in use. Although boys and girls both experienced increased levels of CU across adolescence, boys were more likely to exhibit escalating and chronic patterns of use. Findings revealed unique associations between adolescent CU pathways and facets of psychopathology; most notably, the relatively robust and bidirectional association between CU trajectories and conduct problem symptoms. Conclusions: Specific facets of psychopathology may confer unique associations with CU across development, including the initiation and exacerbation of CU during adolescence.     

The impacts of potency,warning messages,and price on preferences for Cannabis flower products

BackgroundRecreational cannabis has been legalized in 11 states and Washington DC in the US. However, little is known about individual preferences for legal cannabis products. This study estimated the impacts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), warning messages, and price on preferences for cannabis flowers.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey with discrete choice experiments was implemented in October 2017. A sample of 2400 adults aged 21 years or older were recruited from 6 US states with recreational cannabis legalization, consisting of 1200 past-year nonusers and 1200 past-year users. Each respondent was randomly assigned to 12 discrete choice scenarios, each asking them to choose from an opt-out option and 3 cannabis flower products with varying levels in THC, CBD, warning messages, and price. The impacts of product attributes on individual choices were analyzed with nested logit regressions.ResultsBoth cannabis nonusers and users preferred higher CBD and lower price. Users also preferred higher THC. The results on warning messages were mixed: graphic warning on drugged driving and text warning message had positive impacts on nonusers’ and users’ preferences for cannabis flowers, respectively, whereas FDA disapproval disclaimer had negative impacts on nonusers’ preferences. Heterogeneities in preferences were revealed among nonusers by former use status and among users by reason of use. Particularly, medical cannabis users were not as responsive to THC as recreational cannabis users or dual users were. Regarding relative importance of the attributes, all respondents but medical cannabis users perceived price as the most important attribute (relative importance 51–64%), whereas medical cannabis users perceived CBD as the most important attribute (relative importance 47%).ConclusionThe findings indicated that product characteristics may have influences on US adults’ choices of legal cannabis flower products and may deserve consideration for cannabis regulatory framework.     

Uruguayan Cannabis Social Clubs: From activism to dispensaries?

BackgroundIn 2013 Uruguay regulated three models for the supply of cannabis for recreational use (Law 19.172), including Cannabis Social Clubs (CSCs). According to the Cannabis Regulation and Control Institute, 110 CSCs are active at the time of writing.ObjectivesThis paper has a twofold goal. Firstly, it aims to take stock of how the CSC model has continued to be implemented in practice, drawing on the first-hand accounts of those involved in its management. Secondly, our analysis seeks to contribute to the understanding of the CSC model by considering the different variants of the model that have emerged in Uruguay.MethodologyOur analysis draws on qualitative research conducted in Uruguay between June and October of 2018. We conducted 15 semi-structured and face-to-face interviews with representatives of registered Uruguayan CSCs and with 13 other stakeholders.Results/conclusionsCSCs’ role as cannabis suppliers is perceived positively in terms of the type of cannabis produced and the means of distribution. We found that truly social CSCs co-exist with, and may be losing ground to, quasi-dispensary clubs. A number of factors may have contributed to this, including the Uruguayan regulatory framework, institutional context, and disengagement of members and/or CSC managers. This raises potential new challenges as to the contribution of the CSC model from a harm reduction perspective.     

The implications of late-life cannabis use on brain health: A mapping review and implications for future research

While medical and recreational cannabis use is becoming more frequent among older adults, the neurocognitive consequences of cannabis use in this age group are unclear. The aim of this literature review was to synthesize and evaluate the current knowledge on the association of cannabis use during older-adulthood with cognitive function and brain aging. We reviewed the literature from old animal models and human studies, focusing on the link between use of cannabis in middle- and old-age and cognition. The report highlights the gap in knowledge on cannabis use in late-life and cognitive health, and discusses the limited findings in the context of substantial changes in attitudes and policies. Furthermore, we outline possible theoretical mechanisms and propose recommendations for future research.The limited evidence on this important topic suggests that use in older ages may not be linked with poorer cognitive performance, thus detrimental effects of early-life cannabis use may not translate to use in older ages. Rather, use in old ages may be associated with improved brain health, in accordance with the known neuroprotective properties of several cannabinoids. Yet, firm conclusions cannot be drawn from the current evidence-base due to lack of research with strong methodological designs.     

Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Plant Extracts Films: Preparation,Surface Characterization and Antibacterial Studies against Gram Positive and Gram Negative Bacteria

In this study, we aim to obtain biomaterials with antibacterial properties by combining poly(vinyl alcohol) with the extracts obtained from various selected plants from Romania. Natural herbal extracts of freshly picked flowers of the lavender plant (Lavandula angustifolia) and leaves of the peppermint plant (Mentha piperita), hemp plant (Cannabis sativa L.), verbena plant (Verbena officinalis) and sage plant (Salvia officinalis folium) were selected after an intensive analyzing of diverse medicinal plants often used as antibacterial and healing agents from the country flora. The plant extracts were characterized by different methods such as totals of phenols and flavonoids content and UV-is spectroscopy. The highest amounts of the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, respectively, were recorded for Salvia officinalis. Moreover, the obtained films of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) loaded with plant extracts were studied concerning the surface properties and their antibacterial or cytotoxicity activity. The Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared analysis described the successfully incorporation of each plant extract in the poly(vinyl alcohol) matrix, while the profilometry demonstrated the enhanced surface properties. The results showed that the plant extracts conferred significant antibacterial effects to films toward Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and are not toxic against fibroblastic cells from the rabbit.     

巴马火麻仁总木脂素酰胺类提取物对小鼠急性肝损伤的保护作用

目的研究广西巴马产火麻仁中提取分离获得的火麻仁总木脂素酰胺类提取物(LFC)对CCl4致小鼠急性肝损伤的保护作用。方法昆明种小鼠,以LFC低、中、高(60、120、180 mg·kg-1)剂量连续给药7 d后,分别采用腹腔注射0.1%CCl4的橄榄油溶液(10 mL·kg-1)建立小鼠急性肝损伤模型,16 h后,杀鼠取材,分别检测小鼠血清中谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、谷草转氨酶(AST)活性,肝脏中丙二醛(MDA)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)含量,光学显微镜下观察肝组织病理学变化。结果 CCl4模型组肝功能明显异常,ALT、AST显著升高,肝组织变性、坏死严重。经LFC预防性治疗后,血清中ALT、AST活性显著降低(P<0.01)、肝组织中MDA含量显著降低(P<0.01),SOD活力增加;肝脏组织学观察证实,LFC能明显改变受损组织的病理学变化。结论 LFC对CCl4致小鼠急性肝损伤均具有较好的保护作用。     

Preliminary evidence of cannabinoid effects on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in humans

Background  Acute and chronic exposure to cannabinoids has been associated with cognitive deficits, a higher risk for schizophrenia and other drug abuse. However, the precise mechanism underlying such effects is not known. Preclinical studies suggest that cannabinoids modulate brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Accordingly, we hypothesized that Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC), the principal active component of cannabis, would alter BDNF levels in humans. Materials and methods  Healthy control subjects (n = 14) and light users of cannabis (n = 9) received intravenous administration of (0.0286 mg/kg) Δ⁹-THC in a double-blind, fixed order, placebo-controlled, laboratory study. Serum sampled at baseline, after placebo administration, and after Δ⁹-THC administration was assayed for BDNF using ELISA. Results  Δ⁹-THC increased serum BDNF levels in healthy controls but not light users of cannabis. Further, light users of cannabis had lower basal BDNF levels. Δ⁹-THC produced psychotomimetic effects, perceptual alterations, and “high” and spatial memory impairments. Implications  The effects of socially relevant doses of cannabinoids on BDNF suggest a possible mechanism underlying the consequences of exposure to cannabis. This may be of particular importance for the developing brain and also in disorders believed to involve altered neurodevelopment such as schizophrenia. Larger studies to investigate the effects of cannabinoids on BDNF and other neurotrophins are warranted.