Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Harm reduction is a person-centred, evidence-based approach that seeks to minimise negative impacts of risky behaviours, often associated with substance use, without the individual necessarily abstaining from use. Many endorse the approach, as it has been shown to reduce deaths, disease, and helps persons who use substances access community, healthcare, and/or treatment(s). Implementing such programmatic strategies can foster a safe, non-judgemental, and compassionate environment regarding substance use. Considering the current landscape of substance use currently ongoing in Canada, researching models that can help individuals who use is crucial. Investigating different harm reduction approaches for both substance use and alcohol is a valuable research area, as they are the most commonly used substances globally. One of many harm reduction strategies is cannabis substitution, for illicit drugs, alcohol, and/or tobacco. Cannabis as a therapeutic intervention is an emerging research topic, as its legal status has evolved in several western countries (e.g., Canada, USA). Some studies have shown that cannabis can be used as a supplement effectively for more problematic substances (i.e., stimulants, opioids), including alcohol, either by reducing overall intake or abstaining. There is a lack of research and understanding of using cannabis substitution for other more harmful substances. Therefore, investigating whether cannabis is a viable option for ameliorating alcohol use disorder from either reduction of use or abstinence, is of great value. Also, ror exploratory purposes, examining which other factors may contribute to opting to cannabis as an alternative, such as using it to cope alcohol withdrawal, trauma, and/or other mental illnesses, is of importance.