Characteristics associated with synthetic cannabinoid use among patients treated in a public psychiatric emergency setting

ABSTRACTBackground: Growing evidence of adverse outcomes following synthetic cannabinoid use has engendered interest into populations at risk. The existing literature reports that synthetic cannabinoid use is predominant among young, white males. However, reports from local Departments of Health have found contrary evidence, showing that synthetic cannabinoid use is prevalent in populations other than those of young, white men. Objectives: This study sought to examine sociodemographic characteristics associated with self-reported synthetic cannabinoid use among a clinical psychiatric population within a public hospital in New York City. Methods: A cross-sectional medical record review was conducted on synthetic cannabinoid users and non-users in an emergency psychiatric setting. A total of 948 patients who presented at the emergency psychiatric setting in 2014 were included in this sample, 110 (11.6%) of whom were synthetic cannabinoid users. Logistic regressions were used to determine the sociodemographi...