TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2015//
TI  - The role of decision-making in cannabis-related problems among young adults
JO  - Drug and alcohol dependence
A1  - Gonzalez, Raul
A1  - Schuster, Randi Melissa
A1  - Mermelstein, Robin M.
A1  - Diviak, Kathleen R.
SP  - 214
EP  - 221
VL  - 154
IS  - 
N2  - BACKGROUND: Deficits in decision-making and episodic memory are often reported among heavy cannabis users, yet little is known on how they influence negative consequences from cannabis use. Individual differences in decision-making may explain, in part, why some individuals experience significant problems from their cannabis use whereas others do not. We hypothesized that poor decision-making would moderate relationships between amount of cannabis use and problems from cannabis use whereas episodic memory performance would not. <br><br>METHOD: Young adult cannabis users (n=52) with cannabis as their drug of choice and with minimal comorbidities completed semi-structured interviews, self-report questionnaires, and measures of neurocognitive functioning, with decision-making accessed via the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), episodic memory via the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test - Revised (HVLT) and problems from cannabis use with the Marijuana Problems Scale. <br><br>RESULTS: Strong relationships were observed between amount of cannabis use (lifetime, 12-month, and 30-day) and problems reported from use, but only among participants with low (impaired) decision-making (R(2)=.39 to.51; p<.01). No significant relationships were observed among those with better (low average to high average) decision-making performance (p>.05). In contrast, episodic memory performance was not a significant moderator of the relationship between amount of cannabis use and cannabis problems (p>.05). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Cannabis users with poor decision-making may be at greater risk for experiencing significant negative consequences from their cannabis use. Our results lend further support to emerging evidence of decision-making as a risk factor for addiction and extend these findings to cannabis users.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0376-8716
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.06.046
ID  - ref1
ER  -