Faculty of Health and Social Development, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus1628 Dickson Ave., Landmark 4 - 609, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 9X1, Canada.
Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CrCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada.
BMC Public Health. 2024 Sep 6;24(1):2434. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-19886-9.
Young adults face unique vulnerabilities during major life disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic contributed to increases in mental health challenges and substance use among young adults. This study explores the experiences of young adults who increased their cannabis use during the pandemic.
Participants were recruited from the Nicotine Dependence in Teens (NDIT) study, and qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom. A total of 25 participants (ages 33-34) reporting increased cannabis use during the pandemic were included. Thematic analysis and gender-based analysis was employed to extract key themes.
Five themes emerged: (1) No disruption in cannabis use; (2) Cannabis use to manage declines in mental health; (3) Cannabis use to break up pandemic boredom; (4) Cannabis use as an expression of freedom; (5) Cannabis use as "another way to chill out."
This research provides valuable perspectives on how major life disruptions, like the COVID-19 pandemic, influence cannabis use among young adults. The findings offer guidance for public health initiatives and highlight avenues for further investigation.
年轻人在面临重大生活变故（如 COVID-19 大流行）时，会面临独特的脆弱性。大流行导致年轻人的心理健康挑战和物质使用增加。本研究探讨了在大流行期间增加大麻使用的年轻人的经历。
参与者是从青少年尼古丁依赖（NDIT）研究中招募的，通过 Zoom 进行的半结构化访谈收集定性数据。共有 25 名参与者（年龄 33-34 岁）报告在大流行期间大麻使用增加。采用主题分析和基于性别的分析方法提取关键主题。
出现了五个主题：（1）大麻使用没有中断；（2）大麻使用以应对心理健康下降；（3）大麻使用以打破大流行的无聊；（4）大麻使用是自由的表达；（5）大麻使用是“另一种放松方式”。
这项研究提供了有关重大生活变故（如 COVID-19 大流行）如何影响年轻人大麻使用的宝贵观点。研究结果为公共卫生计划提供了指导，并强调了进一步研究的途径。
