Cannabis use motives and associations with personal and work characteristics among Canadian workers: a cross-sectional study

Summary & key facts

This Canadian study asked about 600 workers who had used cannabis in the past year why they used it and whether their reasons were linked to their work. Relaxing and enjoying cannabis were the top reasons, but about 40% of users said at least one of their reasons was related to work, often to cope or to relax. The researchers found that age, health, job stress and some job features were linked to saying cannabis use was work-related, and they say the role of work in cannabis use needs more attention.

Key facts:

• The study surveyed about 600 Canadian workers who had used cannabis in the past year and asked their reasons for using it and whether each reason was connected to work.
• The most common reasons given were relaxation (about 59%), enjoyment (about 47%), social reasons (about 35%), coping with problems (about 35%), medical reasons (about 31%), and sleep (about 30%).
• About 40% of people said at least one of their cannabis use reasons was related to work. The most often work-related reasons were coping (about 20% of people) and relaxation (about 16% of people).
• People who were younger, reported worse overall health, experienced more job stress, had supervisory roles, or worked in hazardous conditions were more likely to say their cannabis use reasons were at least partly work-related.
• Having certain work schedules and using alcohol more often were linked to lower odds of saying most of their cannabis reasons were work-related.
• The study used statistical models to look for links, but it was a one-time survey. That means it shows who is more likely to report work-related motives, but it cannot prove that work causes people to use cannabis for those reasons.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Research on cannabis use motives has focused on youth. Little is known about motives among working adults, including how work may play a role. This study aimed to describe cannabis use motives and their connection to work, and identify the personal and work correlates of work-related motives among a sample of workers. METHODS: A national, cross-sectional sample of Canadian workers were queried about their cannabis use. Workers reporting past-year cannabis use (n = 589) were asked their motives for using cannabis and whether each motive was related to work or helped them manage at work (i.e., work-related). Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the associations of personal and work characteristics with work-related cannabis use motives (no work-related motives, < 50% of motives work-related, ≥ 50% of motives work-related). RESULTS: Use for relaxation (59.3%), enjoyment (47.2%), social reasons (35.3%), coping (35.1%), medical reasons (30.9%), and sleep (29.9%) were the most common motives. Almost 40% of respondents reported one or more of their cannabis use motives were work-related, with coping (19.9%) and relaxation (16.3%) most commonly reported as work-related. Younger age, poorer general health, greater job stress, having a supervisory role, and hazardous work were associated with increased odds of reporting at least some cannabis use motives to be work-related, while work schedule and greater frequency of alcohol use were associated with reduced odds of motives being primarily work-related. CONCLUSIONS: Cannabis use motives among workers are diverse and frequently associated with work. Greater attention to the role of work in motivating cannabis use is warranted.

Topics

Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research Smoking Behavior and Cessation Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

Categories

Epidemiology Health Sciences Medicine

Tags

Cannabis Computer science Cross-sectional study Engineering Internal medicine Logistic regression Machine learning Mechanical engineering Medicine Multinomial logistic regression Occupational safety and health Odds Pathology Psychiatry Psychology Social psychology Work (physics)

Substances

Cannabis

Conditions & symptoms

Anxiety Sleep disorder Anxiety or worry Poor sleep