@article{ref1,
title="Impact of cannabis on non-medical opioid use and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder: a nationwide longitudinal VA study",
journal="American journal of drug and alcohol abuse encompassing all addictive disorders",
year="2020",
author="De Aquino, Joao P. and Sofuoglu, Mehmet and Stefanovics, Elina A. and Rosenheck, Robert Alan",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Multiple states have authorized cannabis as an opioid substitution agent and as a treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).   OBJECTIVES: This study sought to investigate the relationship between cannabis use, non-medical opioid use, and PTSD symptoms among U.S. veterans.   METHODS: From 1992-2011, veterans admitted to specialized intensive PTSD treatment participated in a national evaluation with assessments at intake and four months after discharge. Participants with non-medical opioid use ≥ 7 days during the 30 days preceding admission were divided into two groups: those with cannabis use ≥ 7 days, and those without cannabis use. These two groups were compared on measures of substance use and PTSD symptoms at baseline and 4-months outpatient follow-up. We hypothesized that, at both assessments, the group with baseline cannabis use would show less non-medical opioid use and less severe PTSD symptoms.   RESULTS: Of 1,413 veterans with current non-medical opioid use, 438 (30.3%) also used cannabis, and 985 (69.7%) did not. At baseline, veterans with concurrent non-medical opioid and cannabis use had slightly fewer days of non-medical opioid use (p < .005; d = -0.16), greater use of other substances (p < .0001) and more PTSD symptoms (p = .003; d = 0.16), compared to veterans who used non-medical opioids but not cannabis. At follow-up, substance use or PTSD symptoms did not significantly differ.   CONCLUSION: Cannabis use was not associated with a substantial reduction of non-medical opioid use, or either improvement or worsening of PTSD symptoms in this population. Hence, these data do not encourage cannabis use to treat either non-medical opioid use or PTSD.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0095-2990",
doi="10.1080/00952990.2020.1818248",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2020.1818248"
}