Using ecological momentary assessment and a portable device to quantify standard tetrahydrocannabinol units for cannabis flower smoking

Trull, Timothy J.; Freeman, Lindsey K.; Fleming, Megan N.; Wycoff, Andrea M.

doi:10.1111/add.15872

Cited by 8 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…For instance, the use of biosensors and field testing of products may be increasingly used. Trull et al (2022), as one rare example, quantified tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration among EMA participants using a portable device. Such increasingly rigorous methods are needed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel methods for the remote investigation of emerging substances: Application to kratom.

Smith¹,

Feldman²,

Dunn³

et al. 2024

Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology

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The botanical product commonly called "kratom" is still relatively novel to the United States. Like other natural products marketed as supplements, kratom is highly variable, both in terms of the alkaloids naturally occurring in kratom leaves and in terms of processing and formulation. Kratom products sold in the United States are not well-characterized, nor are daily use patterns among regular users. Surveys and case reports have comprised most of the literature on kratom use among humans. To advance our understanding of real-world kratom use, we developed a protocol for the remote study of regular kratom-using adults in the United States. Our study had three aspects implemented in one pool of participants nationwide: an in-depth online survey, 15 days of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) via smartphone app, and the collection and assay of the kratom products used by participants during EMA. Here, we describe these methods, which can be used to investigate myriad drugs or supplements. Recruiting, screening, and data collection occurred between July 20, 2022 and October 18, 2022. During this time, we demonstrated that these methods, while challenging from a logistical and staffing standpoint, are feasible and can produce high-quality data. The study achieved high rates of enrollment, compliance, and completion. Substances that are emerging or novel, but still largely legal, can be productively studied via nationwide EMA combined with assays of shipped product samples from participants. We discuss challenges and lessons learned so other investigators can adapt these methods. Public Health SignificanceFor this nationwide study investigating the real-world use of kratom products, we utilized a three-phase fully remote design that included an in-depth survey, ecological momentary assessment, and collection of hundreds of participants' product samples. The methods required no in-person participant interaction. These methods permitted collection of subjective self-report data that can be compared to objective chemical characterization of the products used. While labor intensive, these novel methods can be applied to studying a wide range of emerging drugs or legal supplements.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel methods for the remote investigation of emerging substances: Application to kratom.

Smith¹,

Feldman²,

Dunn³

et al. 2024

Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology

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“…Participants were excluded if they reported use of other illicit drugs, were pregnant or planning to become pregnant, experienced a head injury that resulted in changes in mood/concentration/memory, were currently receiving treatment for alcohol or drug use, or did not own a smartphone (which was required for the EMA protocol). Because the primary study (Trull et al, 2022) focused on measuring concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in participants’ personal cannabis flower, we also excluded individuals who exclusively used cannabis oil, concentrates, or edibles as our testing device could not accommodate those methods. At an orientation session, use of cannabis and no recent use of cocaine, opioids, PCP, and amphetamines was confirmed through a five-panel urine screen to determine eligibility.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fifty-two individuals aged 18-50 who reported regular cannabis use (3+ times per week on average during the past month) were recruited for the pilot study using community advertisements. A target sample size of approximately 50 participants was determined in advance for the primary pilot study (Trull et al, 2022), which would allow for the detection of small Level 1 effects (Arend & Schäfer, 2019). Participants were excluded if they reported use of other illicit drugs, were pregnant or planning to become pregnant, experienced a head injury that resulted in changes in mood/concentration/memory, were currently receiving treatment for alcohol or drug use, or did not own a smartphone (which was required for the EMA protocol).…”

Section: Participantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Agreement between momentary and retrospective reports of cannabis use and alcohol use: Comparison of ecological momentary assessment and timeline followback indices.

Freeman¹,

Haney²,

Griffin³

et al. 2023

Psychology of Addictive Behaviors

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Objective: This study compares three methods of cannabis and of alcohol use assessment in a sample of regular cannabis users: (a) ecological momentary assessment (EMA) repeated momentary surveys aggregated to the daily level, (b) EMA morning reports (MR) where participants reported on their total use from the previous day, and (c) retrospective timeline followback (TLFB) interviews covering the same period of time as the EMA portion of the study. We assessed the overall correspondence between these methods in terms of cannabis and alcohol use occasions and also investigated predictors of agreement between methods. Method: Forty-nine individuals aged 18-50 (M age = 24.49, 49% female, 84% White) who reported regular cannabis use completed a 14-day EMA study. At the end of the EMA period, participants returned to the laboratory to complete a TLFB (administered via computer) corresponding to the same dates of the EMA period. Results: Daily aggregated EMA and TLFB reports showed a low to modest agreement for both alcohol and cannabis use. Overall, agreement between EMA and MR was better than agreement between EMA and TLFB, likely because less retrospection is required when only reporting on behavior from the previous day. Quantity and frequency of use differentially predicted agreement across reporting methods when assessing alcohol compared to cannabis. When reporting cannabis use, but not alcohol use, individuals who used more demonstrated higher agreement between EMA and TLFB. Conclusions: Results suggest that retrospective reporting methods assessing alcohol and cannabis should not be considered a direct "substitute" for momentary or daily assessments. Public Health Significance StatementThis study highlights the importance of differentiating between in-the-moment and retrospective reports of alcohol and cannabis use.

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“…Questions without visual aids were employed in n = 16 studies collecting information from cannabis users in Canada (Asbridge et al, 2014;Callaghan et al, 2019;Rotermann, 2019;Sikorski et al, 2021;Zeisser et al, 2012), Spain (Casajuana et al, 2016(Casajuana et al, , 2018Madero et al, 2020), USA (Callaghan et al, 2020;Caulkins et al, 2020;Chen et al, 2022;Lennox et al, 2006;Prince et al, 2020;Ridgeway & Kilmer, 2016;Trull et al, 2022) or USA/Australia (Bonn-Miller et al, 2016) (see Table 1). In most studies, the cannabis quantities were collected for an average use day but some studies also referred to the peak amounts used (Lennox et al, 2006) or to light and heavy use days (Caulkins et al, 2020).…”

Section: Studies Without Visual Aidsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring cannabis quantities in online surveys: A rapid review and proposals for ways forward

Manthey

Pons-Cabrera

Rosenkranz

et al. 2023

Int J Methods Psych Res

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ObjectivesCannabis use quantities are relevant for determining cannabis‐related harms. This research aims to provide an overview of the available methods to assess quantities through self‐report.MethodsA rapid review of various strategies to collect information on cannabis use quantities through self‐report. Two independent literature searches resulted in n = 38 studies included for review.ResultsA total of n = 14 studies employed methods for collecting cannabis use quantities that are not suitable for online surveys (e.g., rolling a fake joint). Of the remaining n = 24 studies with items that are suitable for online surveys, the quantity assessment was performed in three different ways. The data collection was either carried out by asking (a) for the total number of joints (i.e., crude joint method), (b) for the total weight (i.e., crude weight method), or (c) for specific products separately, for example, for the amount of flower and resin (i.e., product‐specific method). In only n = 8 studies, cannabis use quantities were ascertained by providing visual aids (e.g., illustration of various amounts of flower).ConclusionsThe crude joint method and the product‐specific method are the two most promising methods to collect information on cannabis use quantities. Using visual aids may potentially improve the accuracy of those methods.

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Using ecological momentary assessment and a portable device to quantify standard tetrahydrocannabinol units for cannabis flower smoking

Abstract: Aims: To evaluate the feasibility and validity of a new method of quantifying cannabis flower use, integrating the amount of cannabis flower smoked, and the potency of the cannabis flower.Design: Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) for 14 days.

Cited by 8 publications

References 24 publications

Novel methods for the remote investigation of emerging substances: Application to kratom.

Novel methods for the remote investigation of emerging substances: Application to kratom.

Agreement between momentary and retrospective reports of cannabis use and alcohol use: Comparison of ecological momentary assessment and timeline followback indices.

Measuring cannabis quantities in online surveys: A rapid review and proposals for ways forward

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