Associations of U.S. state-level COVID-19 policies intensity with cannabis sharing behaviors in 2020
Abstract Background Cannabis use before the COVID-19 pandemic for many involved sharing prepared cannabis for inhalation, practices that were less prevalent during the pandemic. State-level COVID-19 containment policies may have influenced this decrease. This study examined the extent to which the i...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Harm Reduction Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-00987-y |
| _version_ | 1797199524137009152 |
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| author | Ryan D. Assaf Rita Hamad Marjan Javanbakht Onyebuchi A. Arah Steven J. Shoptaw Ziva D. Cooper Pamina M. Gorbach |
| author_facet | Ryan D. Assaf Rita Hamad Marjan Javanbakht Onyebuchi A. Arah Steven J. Shoptaw Ziva D. Cooper Pamina M. Gorbach |
| author_sort | Ryan D. Assaf |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Cannabis use before the COVID-19 pandemic for many involved sharing prepared cannabis for inhalation, practices that were less prevalent during the pandemic. State-level COVID-19 containment policies may have influenced this decrease. This study examined the extent to which the intensity of state-level COVID-19 policies were associated with individual-level cannabis sharing. Findings have the potential to guide harm reduction policies for future respiratory pandemics and seasonal respiratory virus waves. Methods This study used cross-sectional individual-level data from the COVID-19 Cannabis Study, an anonymous U.S.-based web survey on cannabis use disseminated during the early phase of the pandemic (Full sample N = 1,883). We combined individual-level data with state-level policy data from Kaiser Family Foundation’s State COVID-19 Data and Policy Actions for three time-points from June to August 2020 that overlapped with the survey period. Cannabis sharing was dichotomized as any versus no sharing. We adapted a previously published coding framework to score the intensity of COVID-19 policies implemented in each U.S. state and averaged the policy score across the time period. We then used Poisson regression models to quantify the associations of the average state-level COVID-19 policy score with cannabis sharing during the pandemic. Results Participants (n = 925) reporting using inhalation as a mode for cannabis use were included in this analysis. Most respondents were male (64.1%), non-Hispanic White (54.3%), with a mean age of 33.7 years (SD 8.8). A large proportion (74.9%) reported sharing cannabis during the pandemic. Those who shared cannabis more commonly lived in states with a lower average policy score (16.7, IQR 12.3–21.5) compared to those who did not share (18.6, IQR 15.3–25.3). In adjusted models, the prevalence ratio of any cannabis sharing per every 5-unit increase in the average COVID-19 policy score was 0.97 (95% CI 0.93, 1.01). Conclusions Fewer individuals shared cannabis in states with more intense COVID-19 containment policies compared to those in states with less intense policies. Individuals who use cannabis may be willing to make changes to their behavior and may further benefit from specific and directed public health messaging to avoid sharing during respiratory infection outbreaks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:17:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1c2424b10cc94319bb7b06bc443866ef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1477-7517 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:17:07Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Harm Reduction Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-1c2424b10cc94319bb7b06bc443866ef2024-04-21T11:13:24ZengBMCHarm Reduction Journal1477-75172024-04-0121111110.1186/s12954-024-00987-yAssociations of U.S. state-level COVID-19 policies intensity with cannabis sharing behaviors in 2020Ryan D. Assaf0Rita Hamad1Marjan Javanbakht2Onyebuchi A. Arah3Steven J. Shoptaw4Ziva D. Cooper5Pamina M. Gorbach6UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Medicine, Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, Center for Vulnerable Populations, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of CaliforniaCenter for Behavioral and Addiction Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of CaliforniaUCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of CaliforniaUCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of CaliforniaAbstract Background Cannabis use before the COVID-19 pandemic for many involved sharing prepared cannabis for inhalation, practices that were less prevalent during the pandemic. State-level COVID-19 containment policies may have influenced this decrease. This study examined the extent to which the intensity of state-level COVID-19 policies were associated with individual-level cannabis sharing. Findings have the potential to guide harm reduction policies for future respiratory pandemics and seasonal respiratory virus waves. Methods This study used cross-sectional individual-level data from the COVID-19 Cannabis Study, an anonymous U.S.-based web survey on cannabis use disseminated during the early phase of the pandemic (Full sample N = 1,883). We combined individual-level data with state-level policy data from Kaiser Family Foundation’s State COVID-19 Data and Policy Actions for three time-points from June to August 2020 that overlapped with the survey period. Cannabis sharing was dichotomized as any versus no sharing. We adapted a previously published coding framework to score the intensity of COVID-19 policies implemented in each U.S. state and averaged the policy score across the time period. We then used Poisson regression models to quantify the associations of the average state-level COVID-19 policy score with cannabis sharing during the pandemic. Results Participants (n = 925) reporting using inhalation as a mode for cannabis use were included in this analysis. Most respondents were male (64.1%), non-Hispanic White (54.3%), with a mean age of 33.7 years (SD 8.8). A large proportion (74.9%) reported sharing cannabis during the pandemic. Those who shared cannabis more commonly lived in states with a lower average policy score (16.7, IQR 12.3–21.5) compared to those who did not share (18.6, IQR 15.3–25.3). In adjusted models, the prevalence ratio of any cannabis sharing per every 5-unit increase in the average COVID-19 policy score was 0.97 (95% CI 0.93, 1.01). Conclusions Fewer individuals shared cannabis in states with more intense COVID-19 containment policies compared to those in states with less intense policies. Individuals who use cannabis may be willing to make changes to their behavior and may further benefit from specific and directed public health messaging to avoid sharing during respiratory infection outbreaks.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-00987-yCannabisPolicy evaluationCOVID-19RespiratoryPandemicPublic Health |
| spellingShingle | Ryan D. Assaf Rita Hamad Marjan Javanbakht Onyebuchi A. Arah Steven J. Shoptaw Ziva D. Cooper Pamina M. Gorbach Associations of U.S. state-level COVID-19 policies intensity with cannabis sharing behaviors in 2020 Harm Reduction Journal Cannabis Policy evaluation COVID-19 Respiratory Pandemic Public Health |
| title | Associations of U.S. state-level COVID-19 policies intensity with cannabis sharing behaviors in 2020 |
| title_full | Associations of U.S. state-level COVID-19 policies intensity with cannabis sharing behaviors in 2020 |
| title_fullStr | Associations of U.S. state-level COVID-19 policies intensity with cannabis sharing behaviors in 2020 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Associations of U.S. state-level COVID-19 policies intensity with cannabis sharing behaviors in 2020 |
| title_short | Associations of U.S. state-level COVID-19 policies intensity with cannabis sharing behaviors in 2020 |
| title_sort | associations of u s state level covid 19 policies intensity with cannabis sharing behaviors in 2020 |
| topic | Cannabis Policy evaluation COVID-19 Respiratory Pandemic Public Health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-00987-y |
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