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Researchers at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences recently received a $686,376 grant from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) to study cannabis use disorder in medical marijuana patients.
Tammy Chung, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and the director of the Center for Population Behavioral Health at the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, is designated as the project leader of this grant.
According to Chung, the study will focus on patients who vape or smoke cannabis, as there is an association between those methods and adverse effects such as lung damage. Participants will be followed over the course of two years, with follow-ups conducted every six months. Upon the first visit, patients will come in person and provide a urine sample to track their THC and CBD levels, which are chemicals found in cannabis plants. They will also perform a lung function test to determine their ability to breathe.
At the six-month follow-ups, participants will be asked to complete daily phone surveys over a period of 14 days, Chung said. The surveys will include questions about the amount of cannabis they have consumed, the type of cannabis and method of consumption, whether they have experienced symptom relief or adverse effects, as well as general quality of life.
Chung said that the study will focus on adult medicinal users of cannabis, starting with 18-year-olds and going up to older patients as well. She said that the effects of cannabis use are important to study in older patients, specifically because the cannabis they consumed in the past is different from what is available today due to different formulations, lesser potency and edibles or concentrates not being commonplace.
“The effects of cannabis really are understudied,” Chung said. “It’s really to take a closer look at the health effects of cannabis on physical and mental health.”
Since the legalization of cannabis in New Jersey, use of the substance to treat medical issues has increased, with chronic pain and anxiety being two of the most common reasons cited, she said.
At the University, Chung said that she conducts telehealth interventions to try and reduce risky drinking behaviors in younger adults, such as underage or binge drinking. Binge drinking equates to four or more drinks per sitting for women and five for men, but Chung sees patients who may be having up to 20 drinks per sitting.
She decided to take this telehealth approach and see if she could apply it to cannabis use, she said.
“I think it’s also important to have a balanced view of what is happening, and so I think that’s important to be able to tell that whole story,” Chung said.
The study began enrolling participants last month. One of the biggest challenges is recruiting eligible people, though the study seems to be having success with it so far, Chung said. Another issue has been making sure dose amounts are standardized and accurately reported.
She said that she is looking for people who are interested in helping with the research or participating in the study.
“What we hope to try to get a better idea of is how we can provide information to help inform clear clinical practice guidelines regarding the use of cannabis for therapeutic reasons,” Chung said.
“}]] Researchers at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences recently received a $686,376 grant from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) to study cannabis use disorder in medical marijuana patients. Read More
