Working on a Standard Joint Unit: A pilot test

Authors

  • Cristina Casajuana Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS). Barcelona (Spain); Grup de Recerca en Adiccions Clínic (GRAC). Addictions Unit. Department of Psychiatry. Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic. Universitat de Barcelona. Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RTA).
  • Hugo López-Pelayo Fundació Clínic per la Recerca Biomèdica. Barcelona (Spain); Grup de Recerca en Adiccions Clínic (GRAC). Addictions Unit. Department of Psychiatry. Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic. Universitat de Barcelona. Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RTA)
  • María Mercedes Balcells Grup de Recerca en Adiccions Clínic (GRAC). Addictions Unit. Department of Psychiatry. Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic. Universitat de Barcelona. Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RTA)
  • Laia Miquel Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS). Barcelona (Spain); Grup de Recerca en Adiccions Clínic (GRAC). Addictions Unit. Department of Psychiatry. Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic. Universitat de Barcelona. Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RTA).
  • Lídia Teixidó Grup de Recerca en Adiccions Clínic (GRAC). Addictions Unit. Department of Psychiatry. Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic. Universitat de Barcelona. Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RTA).
  • Joan Colom Agència de Salut Pública de Catalunya - Servei de Drogodependències. Generalitat de Catalunya. Barcelona (Spain).
  • Antoni Gual Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS). Barcelona (Spain); Grup de Recerca en Adiccions Clínic (GRAC). Addictions Unit. Department of Psychiatry. Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic. Universitat de Barcelona. Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RTA).

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20882/adicciones.721

Keywords:

Cannabis, 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, standard unit, pilot study.

Abstract

Introduction. Assessing cannabis consumption remains complex due to no reliable registration systems. We tested the likelihood of establishing a Standard Joint Unit (SJU) which considers the main cannabinoids with implication on health through a naturalistic approach.  Methodology. Pilot study with current cannabis users of four areas of Barcelona: universities, nightclubs, out-patient mental health service, and cannabis associations. We designed and administered a questionnaire on cannabis use-patterns and determined the willingness to donate a joint for analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results. Forty volunteers answered the questionnaire (response rate 95%); most of them were men (72.5%) and young adults (median age 24.5 years; IQR 8.75 years) who consume daily or nearly daily (70%). Most participants consume marihuana (85%) and roll their joints with a median of 0.25 gr of marihuana. Two out of three (67.5%) stated they were willing to donate a joint. Conclusion. Obtaining an SJU with the planned methodology has proved to be feasible. Pre-testing resulted in an improvement of the questionnaire and retribution to incentivize donations. Establishing an SJU is essential to improve our knowledge on cannabis-related outcomes.

Author Biography

Cristina Casajuana, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS). Barcelona (Spain); Grup de Recerca en Adiccions Clínic (GRAC). Addictions Unit. Department of Psychiatry. Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic. Universitat de Barcelona. Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RTA).

Doctoranda en la Unidad de Conductas Adictivas del Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. Proyecto Unidad de Porro Estándar - Plan Nacional sobre Drogas 2013.

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Published

2016-09-29

Issue

Vol. 29 No. 4 (2017)

Section

Originals