Citation

Halladay J, Scherer J, Mackillop J, Woock R, Petker T, Linton V, Munn C. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2019; 204: e107565.

Affiliation

Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4S4, Canada; Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4S4, Canada; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4S4, Canada. Electronic address: munnc@mcmaster.ca.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107565

PMID

31751868

Abstract

PURPOSE: This systematic review summarizes and critically appraises the existing literature on brief interventions (BIs) for cannabis use among emerging adults.

METHODS: Eligible BIs were operationalized as 1-2 sessions focused exclusively on cannabis use for samples with mean ages between 15 and 30. Outcomes related to cannabis use, other substance use, mental health, help-seeking, or functional status were included. Two independent reviewers screened a total of 3638 records, identifying 244 studies for full-text screening. In total, 32 BIs in 26 primary studies with 6318 participants were included.

RESULTS: Participants were typically not seeking treatment and using cannabis at least once a month. Most interventions were motivational, single sessions, and delivered in person. Few discussed concurrent psychiatric conditions. Pooling results at 1-3 months post-intervention, BIs compared to passive control slightly reduced symptoms of cannabis use disorder (SMD -0.14 [95% CI -0.26 to -0.01]) and increased the odds of abstinence (OR 1.73 [95% CI 1.13-2.66]). Other outcome results often favored BIs but were not significant.

RESULTS of studies comparing types of BIs (k = 8) or BIs to longer interventions (k = 1) are discussed narratively. Quality assessment suggested low to very low-quality evidence.

CONCLUSIONS: This review indicates that BIs targeting non-treatment seeking emerging adults result in significant reductions in symptoms of cannabis use disorder and an increased likelihood of cannabis abstinence, however evidence is of low quality.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescent; Brief intervention; Cannabis; Emerging adult; Motivational; Young adult