People in power avoid using sensitive language at work

Peer-Reviewed Publication

QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology finds that people in positions of power are three times less likely to use sensitive language in work-related emails than people junior to them. This challenges common assumptions about the nature of social power and stereotypes about leadership behaviour as typically insensitive and autocratic.

The study, led by Professor Pat Healey of Queen Mary University of London, analysed a large corpus of organizational emails for uses of sensitive language. The researchers found that people in positions of relative social power are much less likely to use words connected with sensitive topics (politics, religion, ethnicity) than people who are not in positions of power. They suggest that this is because positions of power can also be positions of vulnerability and exposure: a leader’s words are scrutinised more closely, by more people, over longer periods.  

"Our findings challenge a common stereotype about the behavior of powerful people," said Professor Healey. "Instead of being relatively uninhibited in their language use, it suggests they are actually extra cautious."    

In the context of UK Covid-19 Inquiry 

The researchers believe that this caution is due to the greater exposure to scrutiny that people in power face. When people in power use sensitive language, they are more likely to be criticised or even punished over potentially unpredictable time periods. This risk is highlighted by the recent revelations from the UK COVID-19 Inquiry, which has used trails of WhatsApp messages to expose tensions and disagreements within the government's response to the pandemic.  

Messages exchanged between Simon Case, Lee Cain, and Dominic Cummings, three senior government figures, provide a glimpse into the inner workings of government during the crisis. The language used in these messages has surprised many by its openly abusive character. While the full extent of these tensions remains to be determined, the messages underscore both how the words of people in positions of power can be held accountable in unexpected ways and what happens to organizational communication when leadership breaks down.  

Implications for understanding power and language 

The study has implications for our understanding of leadership, the exercise of power, and the pressures on people in senior roles. It also suggests an alternative way of thinking about politeness. 

"Traditionally, politeness has been seen as a way of showing respect to others," said Professor Healey. "But our research suggests that politeness can also be seen as a way of protecting oneself from scrutiny. Some leadership stereotypes, and perhaps some leaders, might need to be updated.” 

The study could also be linked to the stories of verbal bullying by ministers such as Priti Patel and Dominic Raab. It would suggest those situations are the exception rather than the rule. 

The researchers believe that their findings could be used to help organizations create more inclusive and respectful workplaces. For example, organizations could provide training on sensitive language to help people in power understand the potential risks of using such language. 

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JOURNAL

Frontiers in Psychology

DOI

10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1266425 

ARTICLE TITLE

Power and Vulnerability: Managing Sensitive Language in Organisational Communication

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

23-Feb-2024

CSI LONDON

Scientists develop biocompatible fluorescent spray that detects fingerprints in ten seconds

Spray uses jellyfish protein to visualise fingerprints in a more sustainable way

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF BATH

 

VIDEO: 

SCIENTISTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BATH (UK) AND SHANGHAI NORMAL UNIVERSITY (CHINA) HAVE DEVELOPED A BIOCOMPATIBLE FLUORESCENT SPRAY THAT DETECTS FINGERPRINTS IN TEN SECONDS. THE SPRAY, BASED ON A FLUORESCENT PROTEIN FROM JELLYFISH, IS SAFER, MORE SUSTAINABLE AND CAN BE USED ON MULTIPLE TYPES OF SURFACE.

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CREDIT: UNIVERSITY OF BATH

Scientists have developed a water soluble, non-toxic fluorescent spray that makes fingerprints visible in just a few seconds, making forensic investigations safer, easier and quicker.

Latent fingerprints (LFPs) are invisible prints formed by sweat or oil left on an object after it’s been touched.

Traditional forensic methods for detecting fingerprints either use toxic powders that can harm DNA evidence, or environmentally damaging petrochemical solvents.

The new dye spray, developed by scientists at the Shanghai Normal University (China) and the University of Bath (UK), is water soluble, exhibits low toxicity and enables rapid visualisation of fingerprints at the crime scene.

They have created two different coloured dyes – called LFP-Yellow and LFP-Red – which bind selectively with the negatively-charged molecules found in fingerprints, locking the dye molecules in place and emitting a fluorescent glow that can be seen under blue light.

The dyes are based on a fluorescent protein found in jellyfish, called Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), which is used extensively by research scientists to visualise biological processes. This means the dyes are biologically compatible and don’t interfere with subsequent DNA analysis of the fingerprints.

The fine spray prevents splashes that could damage prints, is less messy than a powder and works quickly even on rough surfaces where it is harder to capture fingerprints, such as brick.

Professor Tony James, from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Bath (UK), said: “This system is safer, more sustainable and works faster than existing technologies and can even be used on fingerprints that are a week old.

 “Having two different colours available means the spray can be used on different coloured surfaces. We’re hoping to produce more colours in the future.”

Dr Luling Wu, also from the University of Bath (UK), said: “The probes are only weakly fluorescent in aqueous solution, but emit strong fluorescence once they bind to the fingerprints through the interaction between the probes and fatty acids or amino acids.”

While the principal investigator Professor Chusen Huang from Shanghai Normal University in China said that “We hope this technology can really improve the detection of evidence at crime scenes.

“We are now collaborating with some companies to make our dyes available for sale. Further work is still ongoing.”

Their study is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Video showing fingerprint dete [VIDEO] | 

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JOURNAL

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI

10.1021/jacs.3c11277 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

ARTICLE TITLE

De Novo Green Fluorescent Protein Chromophore-Based Probes for Capturing Latent Fingerprints Using a Portable System

POSTMODERN METAL ALCHEMY

Turning waste into wealth: Breakthrough in metal recovery from copper slag

Peer-Reviewed Publication

CENTRAL SOUTH UNIVERSITY

 

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SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF EXPERIMENTAL APPARATUS

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CREDIT: TRANSACTIONS OF NONFERROUS METALS SOCIETY OF CHINA

Copper smelting, a critical process in metal production, often leads to the generation of slag containing valuable metals. Traditionally, this slag has been discarded, causing environmental issues and resource loss. A recent study introduce a method for recovering copper, lead, and zinc from copper smelting slag, addressing both environmental concerns and resource recovery.

Copper smelting is a major source of copper production, generating significant amounts of slag. In 2022, China produced over 11,000 kilotons of refined copper, leading to 2.2 to 3 tons of slag per ton of copper produced. This slag contains valuable metals like copper (0.5%–6%), lead (0.2%–0.6%), and zinc (1%–5.5%), which are often not recovered, resulting in resource waste and environmental hazards from leaked toxic ions.

A study (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1003-6326(23)66375-7 ) released on 19 January 2024, in Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China detailing a novel method for the recovery of copper, lead, and zinc from copper smelting slag using a sulfurization-reduction approach. This innovation represents a significant stride in metallurgical waste management, with potential impacts on both industry practices and environmental sustainability.

The research from Central South University presents a significant advance in metal recycling technology, particularly for copper, lead, and zinc recovery from copper smelting slag. Using pyrite as a sulfurizing agent, this novel sulfurization-reduction technique facilitates the efficient extraction of these metals. The team's rigorous approach, combining thermodynamic analysis with practical laboratory experiments, has led to high recovery rates, achieving nearly 98% for copper and zinc and about 90% for lead. This method is not only effective in reclaiming valuable metals from what was previously considered waste but also plays a crucial role in environmental protection. By significantly reducing the harmful residues in the leftover slag, this method contributes to a more sustainable approach to waste management in the metallurgical industry. It suggests a shift towards more eco-friendly practices, emphasizing the importance of both economic viability and environmental responsibility in resource recovery processes.

Qing-hua Tian, a lead researcher, states, "This sulfurization-reduction method not only recovers valuable metals efficiently but also significantly reduces the environmental footprint of copper smelting."

This research opens up new possibilities for the future of metal recovery, recovering valuable metals and reducing environmental harm. It presents significant implications for the metallurgical industry, especially in countries with high copper production, aligning industrial practices with the growing need for environmental sustainability.

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References

DOI

10.1016/S1003-6326(23)66375-7

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1003-6326(23)66375-7

Funding information

The National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. U20A20273); The National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2019YFC1907400); The Science and Technology Innovation Program of Hunan Province, China (No. 2021RC3005); The Natural Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholar of Hunan Province, China (No. 2022JJ10078).

About The Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China

The Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China (Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China), founded in 1991 and sponsored by The Nonferrous Metals Society of China, is published monthly now and mainly contains reports of original research which reflect the new progresses in the field of nonferrous metals science and technology, including mineral processing, extraction metallurgy, metallic materials and heat treatments, metal working, physical metallurgy, powder metallurgy, with the emphasis on fundamental science. It is the unique preeminent publication in English for scientists, engineers, under/post-graduates on the field of nonferrous metals industry. This journal is covered by many famous abstract/index systems and databases such as SCI Expanded, Ei Compendex Plus, INSPEC, CA, METADEX, AJ and JICST.

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JOURNAL

Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China

DOI

10.1016/S1003-6326(23)66375-7 

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Synergistic recovery of copper, lead and zinc via sulfurization–reduction method from copper smelting slag

Turning waste into wonder: A breakthrough in pollution control

Peer-Reviewed Publication

ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY

 

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 GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT. A THE FURAN REMOVAL EFCIENCY OF VARIOUS CATALYSTS, B CATALYTIC OXIDATION OF FURAN ON CATALYSTS WITH DIFERENT NHPC ADDING AT 160 °C. HPC HIERARCHICAL POROUS CARBON, AC ACTIVE CARBON, NHPC N-DOPED HIERARCHICAL POROUS CARBON, C ON-STREAM REACTION TIME OVER SAMPLES AT 200  °C WITH GV=8000 ML G−1 H−1, D COMPARATIVE ACTIVITY TEST OF CATALYSTS WITH NHPC AND HPC COMBINING, CATALYTIC PERFORMANCE OF FURAN ON V/T1%NHPC1, V/T-1%NHPC2, AND V/T-1%HPC.

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CREDIT: WASTE DISPOSAL & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

Researchers have made significant strides in the field of environmental pollution mitigation by enhancing the effectiveness of vanadium-based catalysts through nitrogen-doped biomass carbon for the degradation of furan at lower temperatures. This innovative approach not only offers a more efficient means of breaking down harmful pollutants but also represents a significant step towards more sustainable and cost-effective environmental protection measures. 

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans are dangerous pollutants due to their carcinogenicity and persistence in the environment. Traditional catalytic oxidation methods for their removal face challenges like high cost and inefficiency at lower temperatures. Research has shown that using carbon materials, such as carbon nanotubes and active carbons, improves catalyic performance by enhancing adsorption and distribution of active sites. However, their application is limited by costs and maintenance issues. N-doped carbon materials, derived from biomass, offer a promising alternative with their high surface area and porosity, potentially lowering operational temperatures and increasing efficiency.

In a new study ( doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42768-023-00172-0) published on 21 December 2023 in Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy, researchers from Zhejiang University, introduces a catalyst combining vanadium-based components and nitrogen-doped biomass carbon (NHPC). This development significantly enhances the low-temperature degradation activity of furan, offering a novel solution for the efficient breakdown of persistent organic pollutants, marking a significant step forward in environmental remediation efforts.

In this study, researchers developed a series of vanadium-based catalystsand their catalytic performances were significantly enhanced by nitrogen-doped hierarchical porous carbon (NHPC) derived from biomass. This enhancement led to a marked improvement in the degradation of furan, a persistent organic pollutant, at lower temperatures than previously possible. The NHPC's introduction into the catalyst structure facilitated an increase in active sites and improved the homogeneous distribution of vanadium oxide phases, which are crucial for the catalytic process. At 150 °C, the modified catalyst achieved 50% furan conversion, a significant improvement over traditional catalysts, with complete conversion occurring at 200°C.

Dr. Minghui Tang, a leading researcher in the study, states, "This breakthrough not only enhances the efficiency of furan degradation at significantly lower temperatures but also opens new pathways for sustainable environmental remediation techniques."

The application of N-doped Hierarchical Porous Carbon (NHPC) in catalysts marks a pivotal advancement in environmental technology, offering a low-temperature, cost-effective method for hazardous pollutant removal. This innovation not only sets a new standard for pollution control but also underscores the potential of biomass derived carbon materials in catalytic degradation., enhancing pollutant degradation efficiency and fostering sustainable environmental protection solutions.

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References

DOI

10.1007/s42768-023-00172-0

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.1007/s42768-023-00172-0

Funding information

The Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (No. LY21E060007); The National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52006191).

About Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy

Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy (WDSE) publishes high-quality papers that advance waste disposal and sustainable energy. It broadly encompassed various traditional waste disposal and new sustainable energy sources related topics. The invention of instrumentation and new-methods on waste characterization and collection are also included. It emphasizes the application of waste disposal and sustainable energy technology to environmental and earth issues. It provides a platform not only for basic research but also for industrial interests.

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JOURNAL

Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy

DOI

10.1007/s42768-023-00172-0 

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Enhancing mechanisms of N-doped biomass carbon on the vanadium-based catalyst for furan degradation at low temperature

 

Discovery of faults on Pacific Ocean floor adds new insights to theory of plate tectonics

Findings show Pacific Plate is being torn apart at undersea plateaus spanning the ocean by the weight of the oceanic plate subducting at the Western Pacific Ring of Fire

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

 

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THE MAP HIGHLIGHTS IN YELLOW THE ZONES OF THE PACIFIC PLATE THAT ARE BEING PULLED APART BY THE SINKING TECTONIC PLATE ALONG THE PACIFIC RING OF FIRE.

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CREDIT: ERKAN GÜN & RUSSELL PYSKLYWEC/UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

TORONTO, ON – New research led by a team of University of Toronto (U of T) geoscientists is refining the century-old model of plate tectonics that holds the plates covering the ocean floors are rigid as they move across Earth’s mantle.

Instead, the researchers found the Pacific Plate is scored by large undersea faults pulling it apart. The newly discovered faults, some thousands of metres deep and hundreds of kilometres long, are the result of enormous forces within the plate tugging it westward.

The researchers describe their findings in a paper published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. The authors include Erkan Gün, a postdoctoral fellow, and Professor Russell Pysklywec in the Department of Earth Sciences in the Faculty of Arts & Science at U of T, Phil Heron, an assistant professor in the Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences at University of Toronto Scarborough, as well as researchers from the Eurasia Institute of Earth Sciences, Istanbul Technical University.

“We knew that geological deformations like faults happen on the continental plate interiors far from plate boundaries,” says Gün. “But we didn't know the same thing was happening to ocean plates.”

Says Pysklywec, “What we're doing is refining plate tectonics — the theory that describes how our planet works — and showing those plates really aren't as pristine as we previously thought.”

For millions of years, the Pacific Plate — which constitutes most of the floor of the ocean — has drifted westward to plunge down into Earth’s mantle along undersea trenches or subduction zones that run from Japan to New Zealand and Australia. As the western edge of the plate is pulled down into the mantle, it drags the rest of the plate with it like a tablecloth being pulled from a table.

The newly discovered plate damage at the faults occurs within extensive, sub-oceanic plateaus formed millions of years ago when molten rock from the Earth’s mantle extruded onto the ocean floor; the faults tend to run parallel to the closest trench.

“It was thought that because the sub-oceanic plateaus are thicker, they should be stronger,” says Gün. “But our models and seismic data show it’s actually the opposite: the plateaus are weaker.”

If the Pacific Plate is like a tablecloth being pulled across a tabletop, the plateaus are patches of weaker cloth more prone to tearing.

The researchers studied four plateaus in the western Pacific Ocean — the Ontong Java, Shatsky, Hess and Manihiki — in a vast area roughly bounded by Hawaii, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. They made their discovery using supercomputer models and existing data, some collected in studies done in the 1970s and 1980s.

“There is evidence that volcanism occurred at these sites in the past as a result of this type of plate damage — perhaps episodically or continuously — but it isn’t clear if that’s happening now,” says Gün. “Still, we can’t be certain because the plateaus are thousands of metres below the ocean surface and sending research vessels to collect data is a major effort. So, in fact, we’re hopeful our paper brings some attention to the plateaus and more data will be collected.”

The theory of plate tectonics has been refined over many decades by numerous earth scientists — including U of T’s John Tuzo Wilson who made significant contributions to it during his career.

“But the theory is not carved in stone and we’re still finding new things,” says Pysklywec. “Now we know this fault damage is tearing apart the centre of an ocean plate —and this could be linked to seismic activity and volcanism.

“A new finding like this overturns what we’ve understood and taught about the active Earth”, he says. “And it shows that there are still radical mysteries about even the grand operation of our evolving planet.”

– 30 –

A cross-section showing how the sinking Pacific slab is stretching and pulling apart weak oceanic plateaux embedded in the Pacific Plate.

CREDIT

Erkan Gün & Russell Pysklywec/University of Toronto

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JOURNAL

Geophysical Research Letters

DOI

10.1029/2023GL105452 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Computational simulation/modeling

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Syn-Drift Plate Tectonics

 

Affective computing: Connecting computing with human emotions for empathetic AI

A comprehensive review of progress and future trends in affective computing

Peer-Reviewed Publication

INTELLIGENT COMPUTING

 

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THE KEYWORDS ASSIGNED TO PAPERS BY AUTHORS IN THE FIELD OF AFFECTIVE COMPUTING WERE ANALYZED FOR FREQUENCY AND CO-OCCURRENCE, AND THE CORE KEYWORDS AMONG THEM WERE CLUSTERED TO GET FIVE CLUSTERS.

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CREDIT: GUANXIONG PEI ET AL.

Imagine a world where your smartphone can detect your mood just by the way you type a message or the tone of your voice. Picture a car that adjusts its music playlist based on your stress levels during rush hour traffic. These scenarios are not just futuristic fantasies. They are glimpses into the rapidly evolving field of affective computing. Affective computing is a multidisciplinary field integrating computer science, engineering, psychology, neuroscience and other related disciplines. A new and comprehensive review on affective computing was published Jan. 5 in Intelligent Computing. It outlines recent advancements, challenges and future trends.

Affective computing enables machines to perceive, recognize, understand and respond to human emotions. It has various applications across different sectors, such as education, healthcare, business services and the integration of science and art. Emotional intelligence plays a significant role in human-machine interactions, and affective computing has the potential to significantly enhance these interactions. According to the review, research in this field covers five main aspects: basic theory of emotion, collection of emotional signals, sentiment analysis, multimodal fusion, and generation and expression of emotions.

To improve the overall understanding of the theory, technical methods and applications of affective computing, researchers performed a statistical analysis using a bibliometric method. Bibliometrics applies quantitative methods such as mathematics and statistics to the literature of a scientific or other field and processes statistical data based on information science theory.

According to the data collected in the bibliometric study, the number of articles published in the field of affective computing has grown considerably since 1997, with a steady increase in publications until 2009, followed by rapid growth from 2010 to 2019 due to advancements in deep learning. However, post-2019, the growth has plateaued, possibly due to a slowdown in deep learning innovation and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on academia. China is leading the world in publication volume, followed by the United States, India, the UK and Germany. The field's research is published across a wide range of journals, with high-level journals such as IEEE Transactions on Affective Computing, Expert Systems with Applications and Knowledge-Based Systems being favored by scholars in the field of affective computing.

Affective computing research spans disciplines including computer science, engineering, neurosciences and other disciplines. The main research themes in this field, as identified through keyword frequency analysis, are natural language processing, facial expression recognition, human-computer interaction, affective disorder analysis and multimodal emotion analysis. Top institutions in this field include Nanyang Technological University, Imperial College London and Tsinghua University. International collaborations are widespread, particularly between China and the US. The field's scholars are primarily concentrated in Asia and North America.

Affective computing, a field that combines technology with the nuanced understanding of human emotions, is experiencing surges in innovation and related ethical considerations. Innovations identified in the review include emotion generation techniques that enhance the naturalness of human-computer interactions by increasing the realism of the facial expressions and body movements of avatars and robots. The development of fine-grained sentiment classification models is also advancing, allowing for a better understanding of the mixed emotions that occur in everyday life. Cognitive neuroscience is providing valuable insight into the neural basis of emotions, which is crucial for designing systems that can authentically simulate emotional responses.

Meanwhile, the field is reportedly expanding its focus from individual to group-level emotions, recognizing the importance of collective affect in consumer behavior and settings such as workplaces. In addition, researchers are addressing the challenge of cultural diversity by developing models that can adapt to various emotional expressions across different cultures. Such research involves addressing ethical and privacy concerns and advocating the establishment of international standards to govern the use of emotional data.

The researchers identified several current trends that are likely to continue. For example, the construction of large-scale, multimodal datasets is essential for training robust affective computing systems, and there is a growing trend towards collecting and analyzing data that reflects natural emotional expressions. Multimodal fusion technology is being refined to effectively integrate information from various sources, such as facial expressions, voice and text, to improve the accuracy of emotion recognition. Additionally, the field is moving towards a knowledge-driven approach, integrating expert knowledge to compensate for data limitations and enhance computational efficiency.

Affective computing is being applied to political speeches, music, drama and visual arts to predict emotional reactions and enhance emotional expression. This interdisciplinary approach is not only advancing the capabilities of affective computing but also opening up new avenues for research and application.

The future applications of affective computing across various domains show great promise, especially with advancements in affective brain–computer interfaces, empathic human–computer dialogue, emotion-assisted decision-making and affective virtual reality. Affective brain–computer interfaces, which utilize neurological signals, are instrumental in measuring and regulating emotional states, benefiting clinical diagnostics, therapy and military applications. Empathic human–computer dialogue seeks to create more human-like interactions by leveraging multimodal emotional cues, offering potential in elderly companionship and intelligent customer service. Emotion-assisted decision-making incorporates emotional variables into machine decision-making processes, potentially optimizing outcomes in fields like production safety and assisted driving. Affective virtual reality plays a crucial role in constructing immersive metaverses, employing emotionally rich avatars to engage users, thus facilitating applications in virtual socialization, anchors and marketing.

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JOURNAL

Intelligent Computing

DOI

10.34133/icomputing.0076 

ARTICLE TITLE

Affective Computing: Recent Advances, Challenges, and Future Trends

 

Cannabis use policies are on the rise yet treatment for cannabis use disorder treatment remains low

In states with cannabis dispensaries treatment for the disorder decreased

Peer-Reviewed Publication

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY'S MAILMAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

February 26, 2024—Treatment for cannabis use disorder (CUD) decreased since 2004, and particularly in states with medical cannabis dispensary provisions, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Specialty treatment for the disorder did not meaningfully change among people with past-year CUD in states with recreational cannabis legislation. The study is believed to be the first to estimate relationships between national medical and recreational cannabis laws and self-reported CUD treatment and includes the most comprehensive years with compa­rable data for policy analysis.

“Our findings add to the growing evidence indicating cannabis dispensaries are a key policy lever affecting cannabis-related outcomes,” noted Pia Mauro, PhD, assistant professor of Epidemiology. The results are published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

Cannabis use disorder prevalence has increased among U.S. adults and has negative health and social consequences yet is rarely treated. There are currently no FDA-approved pharmacological treatments for CUD. While cannabis use in the U.S. remains il­legal at the federal level, 38 states and the District of Columbia have medical cannabis laws (MCLs) and 23 states and D.C. have recrea­tional cannabis laws as of June 2023.

“We found that specialty treatment for cannabis use disorder remained very low and decreased in states with cannabis dispensary provisions, even among people reporting past-year cannabis use disorder, which is a clinical indicator of needing treatment,” said Mauro. “This translates to growing unmet treatment need throughout the U.S.”

“Importantly, few people needing cannabis use disorder treatment in our study perceived a need for CUD treatment,” she observed. In other studies, cannabis laws have been associated with lower cannabis-related perceived harms.

Using information from the 2004–2019 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health measured annually from the 50 states and District of Columbia, the researchers analyzed data from people ages 12 years of age and older with past-year cannabis use disorder or classi­fied as needing CUD treatment, which also included people who reported treatment for the disorder in the past year but may have not had at least two CUD symptoms. Approximately 68,000 people were sampled yearly in the repeated cross-sections.

Specialty CUD treatment prevalence decreased by 1.35 points after medical cannabis laws were passed, and by 2.15 points for states with these laws but without dispensaries or after MCL with dispensaries provisions became effective, compared to before medical cannabis laws. Among people with CUD in 2004–2014, specialty treatment decreased only in MCL states with dispensary provisions. Changes in treatment before and after recreational cannabis laws became effective were also measured to ex­amine effects of recreational laws above and beyond medical cannabis legislation.

Among the 2.4–2.5 percent of people ages 12 and older classified as needing cannabis use disorder treat­ment, 7.3–10.4 percent reported any CUD treatment, 5.2–7.0 percent reported specialty CUD treatment, and 1.4–2.6 percent perceived a need for CUD. Among the 2.3–2.4 percent of people with CUD, 4.2–6.4 percent re­ported any CUD treatment, 2.1–2.9 percent reported specialty CUD treat­ment, and 1.4–2.6 percent perceived a need for CUD treatment.

Mauro and colleagues note that recreational cannabis laws (RCLs) have previously been associated with increased cannabis use disorder prevalence between 2008 and 2016 among adults 26 and older, suggesting greater need for treatment in states with RCL as well.  “Specialty CUD treatment remained low among people with CUD, and our findings suggest lower treatment among people without CUD in states with RCL. This could be due to changing criminal legal referrals or other mandated or coerced treatment.”

“Because cannabis use disorder treatment was so low across states, we note the urgency for targeting efforts in support of people with CUD, particu­larly in states with cannabis dispensaries. From a structural perspec­tive, this includes training and supporting providers to increase screening and discussions about cannabis use and ensuring access to effective evidence-based services,” said Mauro. “The findings also suggest the need for public education about the likelihood and symptoms of CUD, as well as need for treatment when clinically indicated, in the context of changing cannabis legal status.”

Co-authors are Sarah Gutkind, Silvia S. Martins, Melanie S. Askari, Erin M. Annunziato and Christine Mauro, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health; Deborah S. Hasin, Columbia Mailman School and New York State Psychiatric Institute; Hillary Samples, Rutgers Institute for Health and Rutgers School of Public Health; Anne E. Boustead, University of Arizona and Columbia Mailman School.

The study was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, grants K01DA045224, T32DA031099, R36DA058180, K01DA049950, R01DA037866, and R01DA048860.

Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

Founded in 1922, the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health pursues an agenda of research, education, and service to address the critical and complex public health issues affecting New Yorkers, the nation and the world. The Columbia Mailman School is the fourth largest recipient of NIH grants among schools of public health. Its nearly 300 multi-disciplinary faculty members work in more than 100 countries around the world, addressing such issues as preventing infectious and chronic diseases, environmental health, maternal and child health, health policy, climate change and health, and public health preparedness. It is a leader in public health education with more than 1,300 graduate students from 55 nations pursuing a variety of master’s and doctoral degree programs. The Columbia Mailman School is also home to numerous world-renowned research centers, including ICAP and the Center for Infection and Immunity. For more information, please visit www.mailman.columbia.edu.

 

 

 

 

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JOURNAL

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

DOI

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111113 

ARTICLE TITLE

Associations between cannabis policies and state-level specialty cannabis use disorder treatment in the United States, 2004–2019