Made from concentrate? A national web survey assessing dab use in the United States.
Kelly A. Sagar, Ashley M. Lambros, Mary Kathryn Dahlgren, Rosemary T. Smith, Staci A Gruber
Drug and Alcohol Dependence September 1, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.05.022 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 4,077 |
| Population | US recreational cannabis consumers responding to a national web-based survey |
| Measures | Marijuana Motives Measure, Severity of Dependence Scale |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Concentrates Dabs Potency |
| Key findings | Among 4077 survey respondents, 58% had tried dabs and 36.5% used them regularly (monthly or more). Regular dab users were more likely to cite experimentation ('curious') as a motive, whereas positive-effect motives like coping, sleep, and social anxiety relief were endorsed more for flower cannabis. Regular dab users also reported more worry about their cannabis use. The authors argue that consumers appear to choose highly potent concentrates for experimentation rather than positive effects, and that concentrate use may lead to increased cannabis-related problems. |
Abstract
Cannabis concentrates, including dabs, contain extremely high levels of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Although these products appear to be gaining popularity among recreational cannabis consumers, little data exists regarding concentrate use in the US. We conducted a national web-based survey to examine patterns of concentrate use, specifically dabbing. 4077 respondents completed a survey designed to assess the use of conventional flower cannabis relative to dabs. Individuals provided information about frequency and magnitude of use, and also completed the Marijuana Motives Measure and Severity of Dependence Scale to examine whether dab users have different motives for use and/or demonstrate more severe consequences of use compared to those who only use conventional flower products. 58% of respondents reported they had tried dabs at least once and 36.5% endorsed regular use (once a month or more). Those who use regularly use dabs were significantly more likely to report using for experimentation (feeling "curious") relative to reasons for using conventional flower products. Interestingly, motives reflecting positive effects (i.e., coping, sleep problems, relieving social anxiety) were endorsed more highly for flower use. In addition, regular dab users reported being more worried about their use of cannabis products relative to those who had tried dabs but did not use regularly. Results indicate that cannabis consumers do not necessarily choose dabs over flower products for positive effects, but rather appear to choose these highly potent products for experimentation. As concentrate use may lead to increased cannabis-related problems, studies directly assessing concentrate users are needed.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannabis use before age 15 and subsequent executive functioning 104 chronic cannabis users (49 early-onset before age 15, 55 late-onset after age 15)... | 2011 | Observational cross-sectional study | n = 148 |
| Patterns of simultaneous polysubstance use in drug using university students Drug-using university students | 2006 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 149 |
| Persisting Reductions in Cannabis, Opioid, and Stimulant Misuse After Naturalistic Psychedelic Use: An Online Survey Online survey respondents | 2020 | Cross-sectional survey | |
| User perceptions of the benefits and harms of hallucinogenic drug use: A web-based questionnaire study Users of hallucinogenic drugs who completed a web-based questionnaire | 2010 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 600 |
| Illicit Use of LSD or Psilocybin, but not MDMA or Nonpsychedelic Drugs, is Associated with Mystical Experiences in a Dose-Dependent Manner Adults recruited from the MAPS website and newsletter, most reporting use of various... | 2012 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 337 |
Citations in the library
Cites 6
- Distinct Effects of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol on Neural Activation During Emotional Processing Archives of General Psychiatry 2009
- Just say 'know': how do cannabinoid concentrations influence users' estimates of cannabis potency and the amount they roll in joints? Addiction October 2014
- Modulation of auditory and visual processing by delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol: an FMRI study. Neuropsychopharmacology June 2011
- Opposite effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on human brain function and psychopathology. Neuropsychopharmacology November 18, 2009
- Biomarkers for the effects of cannabis and THC in healthy volunteers. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology January 2009
and 1 more in the library