Cannabis use in a sample of Portuguese adults: an exploratory online study*

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.15952425110613

• Palavras-chave: Cannabis use, risky consumption, ASSIST, polyconsumption

• Keywords: Cannabis use, risky consumption, ASSIST, polyconsumption

• Abstract:

  Background: Alcohol and tobacco are the most consumed licit substances in Portugal, while cannabis is the most consumed illicit drug. 
  Objectives: To characterize cannabis use in a sample of Portuguese adults, assessing risk levels and polydrug use with other licit and illicit substances. Methodology: Quantitative, descriptive, correlational and cross-sectional study, based on a questionnaire made available online with the ASSIST version 3.1 (Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test) as the main collection tool. Results: The results (sample of 1312 Portuguese adults) reveal higher frequencies of consumption than national epidemiological studies, for all substances except alcohol. There is a preponderance of licit drugs over illicit drugs in the frequency of consumption. A quarter of the participants have a pattern of harmful cannabis use and 0.5% have a probable dependence. Half of the participants are high-risk users. Conclusion: There is an association between cannabis use and other substances (licit and illicit) and a trivialization of consumption and relativization of the problems associated with the use of this substance.