Cannabis and Other Illicit Drug Use: A Twin Study

描述（由申请人提供）：鉴于大麻的广泛使用、人们日益认识到这种药物对健康的潜在影响以及人们日益认识到大麻依赖是一种独特的临床实体，本次重新提交先前审查过的申请是为了寻求资金，以便就评估大麻使用障碍、大麻的发展阶段和升级以及大麻使用障碍的发展进行一项遗传信息研究。以及大麻使用与心理健康的相关性，包括升级到使用其他药物。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Given the widespread use of cannabis, increasing recognition of the potential health effects of this drug and a growing recognition of cannabis dependence as a distinct clinical entity, this resubmission of a previously reviewed application seeks funding to conduct a genetically informative research study of the assessment of cannabis use disorders, stages of development in and escalation of cannabis and the development of cannabis use disorders, and the mental health correlates of cannabis use, including escalation to the use of other drugs. The project will interview a sample of 6,600 young adult Australian twins using a structured interview assessing lifetime history of cannabis and other drug use and use disorders, and related aspects of substance use and mental health. Specific aims are: AIM 1: To examine the links (genetic or environmental) between early cannabis use and escalation both to the use of other drugs (cocaine, amphetamines, heroin and other opioids, sedatives, hallucinogens, ecstasy) and to drug abuse/ dependence. AIM 2: To assess the psychometric properties of an assessment of cannabis use disorders within the context of a genetically informative research design; and to examine the extent to which early onset cannabis use may be differentially associated with specific components of abuse/ dependence via genetic versus environmental mechanisms. AIM 3: To examine whether apparent links between early cannabis use and subsequent illicit drug use and abuse/ dependence can be explained by hypothesized social factors including exposure opportunity and the nature of peer affiliations at the time of initiation to cannabis use (reported retrospectively). AIM 4: To explore the links (genetic or environmental) between cannabis use and dependence and other measures of common mental health problems (major depressive disorder, persistent suicidal ideation, suicide attempt) and, in particular, to examine the extent to which continued or escalating cannabis use may exacerbate pre-existing mental health problems.