Biomedical subjects

Wendy Swift

Publications and source records attributed to Wendy Swift.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Correlates of driving under the influence of cannabis.

BACKGROUND: Identifying cannabis users who are most at risk of driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) has important implications for drug treatment and prevention efforts. This paper examined correlates of DUIC among a purposive sample of recent cannabis users. METHODS: Interviews were carried out among a cross-sectional sample of 320 Australian cannabis users. Past-year prevalence of DUIC (without using alcohol or other drugs) was regressed against a range of potential predictor variables. RESULTS: Use of multiple drugs, believing that DUIC does not increase accident risk and cannabis dependence all predicted likelihood of DUIC. There was an interaction between age of first cannabis use and gender, whereby earlier onset cannabis use predicted DUIC but only among women. CONCLUSIONS: The correlates of drug driving reflected cannabis users' beliefs about the dangers of cannabis use as well as their patterns of drug consumption. The emergence of cannabis dependence and age of onset as predictors of DUIC suggests a clearly defined role for treatment and prevention efforts in reducing the potential harms associated with DUIC.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMed2006

The Adolescent Cannabis Problems Questionnaire (CPQ-A): psychometric properties.

Despite the widespread use of cannabis among young people, little research attention has been given to the development of psychometrically sound measures specific to cannabis related problems in this group. The aim of this study was to explore the reliability, validity and factor structure of a multi-dimensional measure of cannabis-related problems among adolescents. The Adolescent Cannabis Problems Questionnaire (CPQ-A) was developed as an assessment tool and treatment outcome measure. A stratified sample of 100 young people (aged 14-18 years) who had used cannabis in the past 90 days were administered the CPQ-A on two occasions 1 week apart. Exploratory factor analysis revealed three factors accounting for 63% of total variance with alpha coefficients of 0.88, 0.72 and 0.73. The CPQ-A was reliable with test-retest correlation for the total CPQ-A being 0.91. CPQ-A score correlated significantly with frequency of cannabis use and number of DSM-IV dependence criteria reported. The findings show promise for the CPQ-A as a reliable, valid and potentially clinically useful measure of cannabis related problems among young people.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Preventing cannabis users from driving under the influence of cannabis.

Face-to-face, structured interviews were conducted with 320 recent cannabis users in New South Wales, Australia to assess the likely deterrent effects of (a) increasing the certainty of apprehension for driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) and (b) doubling the severity of penalties for DUIC. Participants were presented with a drug-driving scenario and asked to indicate their likelihood of driving given that scenario. The perceived risk of apprehension and severity of punishment were manipulated in each scenario to create four different certainty/severity conditions and participants were randomly allocated to one of these four groups. A subsidiary aim was to assess the likely impact of providing factual information about the accident risk associated with DUIC. Recent drug drivers who felt at low risk of accident when DUIC were asked to rate their willingness to drive if convinced that it was dangerous. The results suggested that increasing the certainty but not severity of punishment would produce reductions in cannabis-intoxicated driving among recent cannabis users. Providing factual information about the risks associated with DUIC would appear to have little impact on drug-driving rates among this population.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMed2005

The Cannabis Problems Questionnaire: factor structure, reliability, and validity.

AIM: To develop a multi-dimensional valid and reliable measure of cannabis-related problems. METHOD: The Cannabis Problems Questionnaire (CPQ) was developed from the Alcohol Problems Questionnaire to measure cannabis treatment outcome. The CPQ was administered on two occasions 1 week apart to a stratified sample of adults who had used cannabis at least once in the previous 3 months. Exploratory factor analyses were conducted and the relationship between items of the CPQ and measures of daily use and dependence assessed. The reliability of the CPQ was also assessed using a test-retest and inter-rater reliability methodology. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analyses revealed a three factor solution best described the data accounting for 57% of the variance in the larger item set. The CPQ is highly reliable with test-retest tetrachoric correlations of between 0.92 and 1.00 and inter-rater reliability correlations between 0.74 and 1.00. The total CPQ score classified DSM-IV cannabis dependence with 84% specificity and sensitivity and daily cannabis use with 83% specificity and 55% sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: The 22-item CPQ is a valid, reliable and sensitive measure of cannabis-related problems for use with clinical and research populations of current cannabis users.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Survey of Australians using cannabis for medical purposes.

BACKGROUND: The New South Wales State Government recently proposed a trial of the medical use of cannabis. Australians who currently use cannabis medicinally do so illegally and without assurances of quality control. Given the dearth of local information on this issue, this study explored the experiences of medical cannabis users. METHODS: Australian adults who had used cannabis for medical purposes were recruited using media stories. A total of 147 respondents were screened by phone and anonymous questionnaires were mailed, to be returned by postage paid envelope. RESULTS: Data were available for 128 participants. Long term and regular medical cannabis use was frequently reported for multiple medical conditions including chronic pain (57%), depression (56%), arthritis (35%), persistent nausea (27%) and weight loss (26%). Cannabis was perceived to provide "great relief" overall (86%), and substantial relief of specific symptoms such as pain, nausea and insomnia. It was also typically perceived as superior to other medications in terms of undesirable effects, and the extent of relief provided. However, nearly one half (41%) experienced conditions or symptoms that were not helped by its use. The most prevalent concerns related to its illegality. Participants reported strong support for their use from clinicians and family. There was almost universal interest (89%) in participating in a clinical trial of medical cannabis, and strong support (79%) for investigating alternative delivery methods. CONCLUSION: Australian medical cannabis users are risking legal ramifications, but consistent with users elsewhere, claim moderate to substantial benefits from its use in the management of their medical condition. In addition to strong public support, medical cannabis users show strong interest in clinical cannabis research, including the investigation of alternative delivery methods.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

The Adolescent Cannabis Check-Up: feasibility of a brief intervention for young cannabis users.

In this study, we assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of the Adolescent Cannabis Check-Up (ACCU), a brief intervention for young cannabis users. For this initial feasibility study, we used an uncontrolled pre-test/post-test design. Participants were cannabis users aged between 14 and 19 years (n = 73) and concerned parents (n = 69). The intervention comprised an individual assessment session followed 1 week later by a session of personalized feedback delivered in a motivational interviewing style. An optional third session that focused on skills and strategies for making behavioral change was offered. Of the entire sample of cannabis users, 78% reported voluntarily reducing or stopping their cannabis use during the 90 days to follow-up and 16.7% reported total abstinence during this time. In addition, significant reductions were found on measures of both quantity and frequency of use and dependence. These reductions were maintained at 6-month follow-up. Clearly, these preliminary findings must be interpreted with caution given the study design and absence of a control group. The ACCU was, however, able to attract and retain young cannabis users who were not necessarily interested in change. The approach was acceptable to young people and associated with reductions in cannabis use. It appears to be a model that warrants further research in early and brief interventions for this population.

Adolescent↗