TRICCHOME Cohort Study in Young Cannabis Users
Research on psychoactive substance use, particularly cannabis, highlights the necessity for more thorough investigation into consumption patterns and their consequences. This will enable better-informed targeted public health interventions, considering the potential risks and benefits associated with its use, especially among young adults.
The TRICCHOME (TRajectoires Individuelles de Consommation de Cannabis en situation Habituelle et Observations de leurs Modalités en contexte Écologique) study, which will start in Fall 2024 at the DJA laboratory, aims to address this knowledge gap by providing a comprehensive examination of cannabis consumption patterns among young adults aged 18 to 24 who use cannabis at least once a week. By utilizing a multifactorial approach, including parameters such as frequency of use, types of products, and cannabinoid dosages, the study seeks to gain insight into the complexities of non-therapeutic cannabis use. Through longitudinal tracking via a mobile app, researchers aim to reveal how these consumption patterns evolve over time and their potential impacts on social and health-related outcomes. This research is crucial for developing targeted public health plans tailored to the specific needs of young cannabis users, ultimately aiming to mitigate potential harms and adopting a nuanced and evidence-based public health discourse surrounding cannabis use.
Participants in the study will utilize the innovative mobile application developed by our team to record detailed information about each cannabis use session, including route of administration, product type, frequency, duration, amount used, subjective experience, and environmental factors. Retrospective data entry will be allowed for up to 14 days, and health-related outcomes will be measured every four months through the application, with additional features unlocking periodically to facilitate data collection.
This project will offer, for the first time, a more detailed understanding of how young people who use cannabis frequently or daily choose to consume different types of products and how these discrete patterns of consumption influence (positively or negatively) their global health.
Article by Anita Abboud