Cognitive bias and drug craving in recreational cannabis users

Drug Alcohol Depend. 2004 Apr 9;74(1):105-11. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2003.12.005.

Abstract

Recent theories propose that repeated drug use is associated with attentional and evaluative biases for drug-related stimuli, and that these cognitive biases are related to individual differences in subjective craving. This study investigated cognitive biases for cannabis-related cues in recreational cannabis users. Seventeen regular cannabis users and 16 non-users completed a visual probe task which assessed attentional biases for cannabis-related words, and an implicit association test (IAT) which assessed implicit positive or negative associations for cannabis-related words. Results from the IAT indicated more negative associations for cannabis-related words in non-users compared to users. Among cannabis users, those with high levels of cannabis craving had a significant attentional bias for cannabis-related words on the visual probe task, but those with low levels of craving did not. Results highlight the role of craving in attentional biases for cannabis-related stimuli.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Behavior, Addictive / physiopathology
  • Behavior, Addictive / psychology*
  • Cognition* / physiology
  • Cues*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Illicit Drugs*
  • Male
  • Marijuana Abuse / physiopathology
  • Marijuana Abuse / psychology*
  • Photic Stimulation / methods
  • Reaction Time / physiology

Substances

  • Illicit Drugs