Retrospective Self-Reports of How Adolescent Substance Use Changed with the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The final year of high school is a challenging phase of adolescents’ lives and substance use can play an important role. We examined changes in the frequency and quantity of alcohol and cannabis use, and demographic correlates among Grade 12 students of 2020. Students (N = 844) from nine schools retrospectively self-reported changes in substance use after the easing of COVID-19 lockdowns (back to school), compared to before the pandemic. Changes in use were examined with age, gender, Aboriginal or Torres Islander, parental and family characteristics, and truancy. Thirty-one percent of students reported that they used alcohol less frequently, and 24% reported that they used it more frequently compared to pre-COVID-19. Most students (46%) reported that they used cannabis less, while a subset reported using more frequently (22%). A history of truancy was associated with an increased frequency (OR = 2.13 [1.18–3.83]) of cannabis use. A substantial minority of adolescents used more alcohol and cannabis after the initial COVID-19 lockdown period. Students in their final year who reported increased use may benefit from increased support to manage their substance use.

Acute Toxicity and Pharmacokinetic Profile of an EU-GMP-Certified Cannabis sativa L. in Rodents

“…A recent systematic review concluded that THC administered orally has a variable pharmacokinetic profile, which differs between formulations, with high variability, including in the case of similar formulations [ 30 ]. Furthermore, data on the demographic-specific impact of cannabis use [ 29 , 31 , 32 , 33 ], substance use disorders [ 34 , 35 , 36 ], abuse, dependence and risks come only from retrospective reports [ 37 , 38 ]. Therefore, randomized controlled trials on standardized GMP-level cannabis products are needed to reduce the results’ unpredictability when using medical cannabis, to increase the efficacy and safety of compound formulations for therapeutic uses, and to support further investigations regarding the use of cannabis in specific conditions and pathologies.…”