Talking About Cannabis: Perspectives of First Episode Psychosis Care Participants and Parents
<b>Objective:</b> Given important links between cannabis use and psychosis, we explored communications around about cannabis use with young people receiving Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) for first episodes of psychosis and parents of such clients. <b>Methods:</b> In individual semi-structured interviews, clients (<i>n</i> = 15) and parents (<i>n</i> = 16) discussed experiences, concerns, and preferences talking about cannabis use, and how such conversations could be more beneficial. Analysis followed Braun and Clark's six-phase thematic analysis. <b>Results:</b> We discerned four themes toward optimizing communication: (1) Respect for Developing Client Autonomy, (2) "Good Information" about Cannabis and Its Effects, (3) Good Communication Process, and (4) Conversations Complicated by Changing Norms. <b>Conclusions:</b> Analysis revealed agreement between clients and parents about what makes conversations positive, but difficulties understanding each other's perspectives, and both feeling misunderstood. Interventions that build communication skills, support these difficult conversations, and provide high quality information in non-judgmental ways could support better cannabis discourse.
Authors
- Denise D. Walker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3811-5239)
- R. W. Buchanan
- Swati Nayar
- Alicia Lucksted (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3746-6683)
- R. W. Goldberg
- Arielle Ered (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8386-4423)
- Yasmine Boumaiz
- Christian Kelly
- Elizabeth C. Thomas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6543-9856)
- Crystal Vatza
- Arunadevi Saravana (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5414-9722)
- R E Margolis
- Julie Kreyenbuhl (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3605-3123)
- Alison Swigart (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0127-396X)
- Allison Brandt
- Rachel Scheinberg
- Max Wolcott
- Donna J. Bencivengo
- Krissa Rouse
- Elizabeth Burris
- Kathryn Rinehimer
- Ladawn Myers
- Tyler M. Moore
- Melanie Bennett
- Megan B.E. Jumper
- Monica E. Caulkins
- Amanda Fooks
- Deepak K. Sarpal
Institutions
- University of Maryland, Baltimore (US)
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- University of Pittsburgh (US)
- University of Washington (US)
- Johns Hopkins Medicine (US)
- Temple College (US)
- Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center (US)
- York College of Pennsylvania (US)
- Behavioral Pharma (United States) (US)
- NeuroDevelopment Center (US)
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (US)
- University Psychiatric Hospital (SI)
- Psychiatric Medical Center (AM)
- University of Pennsylvania (US)
- Temple University (US)
- Wesley College (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Dual Diagnosis
- Published
- 2025-12-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1080/15504263.2025.2606020
- Primary Topic
- Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00