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Abstract
Objective: As cannabis use is widespread in most developed societies, cannabis-related problems are of relevance to public health. The aim of this article is to identify screening instruments that adequately estimate the extent of cannabis-related problems via epidemiological surveys at the population level.
Method: Based on existing reviews, databases and literature research, 44 potentially useful instruments were identified. Logistically unsuitable instruments (e.g. requiring clinical administration), and instruments which had not undergone cannabis-specific evaluations in population surveys were subsequently removed from the list.
Results: Seven instruments were found to be potentially suitable for use as cannabis screeners in population surveys. A further in-depth analysis was conducted as regards their purpose, their dimensionality and coverage of health, social and cognitive problems, the ascription of consequences and item time frame, as well as their psychometric properties when validated in population studies.
Conclusions: The Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST), the Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test (CUDIT) and the Cannabis Use Problems Identification Test (CUPIT) were found to be the most appropriate tools to screen for cannabis-related problems in general population surveys.
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1. Cannabis use among older adults is less relevant to public health for several reasons. It is supposed that cannabis, when used chronically, has harmful effects (respiratory disease, psychotic symptoms, etc.) and probably also increases poor educational outcomes, especially in vulnerable young adults (Hall & Lynskey, Citation2009). In addition, prevalence rates drop sharply with age, especially among the 24–34 age group (EMCDDA, Citation2010a).
2. Harmful use: ‘… substance use that is causing damage to health. The damage may be physical (…) or mental (...). Harmful use commonly, but not invariably, has adverse social consequences; social consequences in themselves, however, are not sufficient to justify a diagnosis of harmful use.’ (WHO, Citation2010)