Background:

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction reports an increasing number of patients in treatment for opioid and cannabis use. In Portugal, 72 drug-induced deaths were identified in the 15-64 age group.

Objectives:

To characterize cannabis use, risk grade, and polydrug use in Portuguese adults.

Methodology:

Quantitative, descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study, using the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST).

Results:

The results reveal higher frequencies of consumption than nationwide epidemiological studies for all substances (except alcohol). Cannabis use is mostly low risk, but there is harmful use and probable dependence. Polydrug use exists, mainly of cannabis with alcohol and tobacco.

Conclusion:

Cannabis use has increased in recent years; there is an association of cannabis use with other substances; problems associated with cannabis use are relativized, despite the risk assessment pointing in another direction.

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