Avoidance tendencies toward cannabis stimuli in a college sample

Abstract

Individuals with addictions often exhibit approach bias, or the relatively automatic action tendency to approach rather than avoid addiction-related stimuli. The current study used a cannabis-Approach-Avoidance Task (AAT) to assess approach-avoidance tendencies toward cannabis stimuli among 211 undergraduate college students with varying levels of cannabis use. Frequency and severity of cannabis use was assessed using the Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test – Short Form (CUDIT-R). The sample did not demonstrate a significant approach or avoidance bias toward cannabis stimuli; instead, participants were significantly slower to approach and avoid cannabis stimuli relative to neutral stimuli. Individuals with problematic cannabis use who met criteria for a possible cannabis use disorder (CUD) based on CUDIT-R criteria were significantly slower to avoid but not to approach cannabis stimuli compared to individuals with nonuse and non-problematic use. Moreover, increased frequency and severity of cannabis use was significantly associated with increased reaction times to avoid cannabis stimuli. Findings appear to differ from some previous studies examining approach-avoidance tendencies toward cannabis, suggesting that the role of cognitive biases in cannabis use is complex and should be further investigated.

Keywords:

• Cannabis addiction
• approach-avoidance
• anhedonia
• depression
• quality of life
• pornography
• AAT
• gaming

Declaration of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest with respect to the content of this manuscript. Dr. Potenza has consulted for and advised Rivermend Health, the Addiction Policy Forum, Game Day Data, Opiant/Lightlake Therapeutics and Jazz Pharmaceuticals; received research support from the Mohegan Sun Casino and the National Center for Responsible Gaming; and consulted for legal and gambling entities on issues related to impulse control and addictive behaviors. The other authors report no disclosures.