Estimating risk of cannabis use disorder using standard THC units with Rachel Lees Thorne and Tom Freeman

Estimating risk of cannabis use disorder using standard THC units with Rachel Lees Thorne and Tom Freeman

How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This episode of Addiction Audio takes you on an intriguing exploration of cannabis use disorder, guided by the expertise of Dr Rachel Lees Thorne and Professor Tom Freeman from the University of Bath. The discussion centres around their groundbreaking research on using standard THC units to estimate the risk of developing cannabis use disorder.

With a focus on both adolescents and adults, they reveal how weekly THC consumption can predict the likelihood of this disorder, drawing parallels to alcohol guidelines. Dr Elle Wadsworth hosts this enlightening conversation, where Rachel and Tom explain the significance of standard THC units—a measure of THC in milligrams applicable to all cannabis products. They share insights from the CannTeen study, which provided a detailed look at THC consumption and its correlation with cannabis use disorder symptoms.

Listeners will learn about the thresholds identified for lower-risk cannabis use, akin to the familiar alcohol unit guidelines. With humour and warmth, the episode addresses how these findings can inform harm reduction strategies and public health messaging. The team also discusses future plans to develop tools for easier calculation of THC consumption, making it accessible for individuals and clinicians alike. Curious about how these insights could impact your understanding of cannabis use?

Tune in to find out how a small change in perspective can lead to significant changes in behaviour.