Loverock, A.

Interest in Online Supports and Brief-Self Help Interventions Among Young Adult Cannabis Users
Loverock, A., Yakovenko, I., Wild., T. C.

In Canada, only a fraction of cannabis users who experience problems with this substance ever seek help or access specialty treatment. Although this treatment gap could be reduced by implementing online brief interventions and self-help resources, it is not clear whether cannabis users would be interested in accessing those tools. We examined whether cannabis-related problems, motives for using cannabis, and protective behavioral strategies predicted interest in accessing online self-help materials. We hypothesized that interest in accessing online self-help materials would be positively associated with (1) problematic cannabis use, (2) using cannabis to cope with negative affect (but not other motives), and that interest would be inversely associated with (3) cannabis-related protective behaviors.

Secondary analyses of 649 cannabis-using Canadian University students (58% female; M age = 22.52) participating in a population survey. Data were analyzed using two setwise hierarchical multiple linear regression models to predict interest in (a) cannabis-specific support resources and (b) general addiction and mental health supports, from objective risk status, motives, and protective behaviors.

Most (59%) respondents were interested in accessing one or more online supports. Problematic cannabis use, coping, enhancement and expansion motives, and protective behaviors were all positively associated with interest in accessing online resources, each accounting for unique variance in the outcomes.

Many young adults who use cannabis are interested in accessing online self-help resources, but interest is greater among those meeting criteria for problematic cannabis use, those using this substance for coping, expansion, and enhancement reasons, and among those who already engage in protective behaviors.