Managed alcohol and cannabis substitution: A feasibility study

Funding body

Canadian Institutes of Health Research Catalyst Grant: Cannabis Research in Urgent Priority Areas

Background

Our rationale for exploring this area of research stemmed from findings of the Canadian Managed Alcohol Program Study (CMAPS) conducted between 2013 and 2018 and preliminary evidence of cannabis substitution for alcohol in the literature. Resident and staff participants of CMAPS often raised the need for additional therapeutic options for alcohol harm reduction and/or transition from MAPs for residents who identified goals of self-management, abstinence, and/or independent housing. Further, data from CMAPS suggests that while participants in MAPs experience reduced harms in acute and social domains and reduced daily consumption of alcohol compared to controls (non-MAP participants), some MAP participants continue to drink on average more days per month than controls with fewer breaks and hence increased risk of chronic alcohol-related diseases.

Progress to date

Data collection has been completed with program participants, leaders and staff.  The findings were synthesized into a community report which was reviewed by all community partners in early 2020. An infographic was produced along with a peer-reviewed publication as to the feasibility of cannabis in MAP.  We have developed protocols for both the intervention as well as the evaluation. All resources can be found at www.cmaps.ca.