Cannabis abuse disorder: climate policies influence marijuana use

MArijana is now legalized in one form or another in 33 states and the District of Columbia, and as a result, statistics show that marijuana use is expanding. As cannabis use increases, researchers and policymakers fear an increase in cannabis use disorders. But according to a study published Wednesday in the International Journal of Drug Policyit's not a unique situation.

The Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health team explains that most cannabis policy work involves a "one policy, one outcome" approach. However, it seems that the general political climate of a state complicates health outcomes. New study shows that while teens and young adults living in more liberal states have higher average rates of cannabis use than in recent years compared to those living in conservative states, rates of cannabis use troubles among 12- to 17-year-olds, they were significantly lower in the states with the most liberal policies and slightly lower in those 26 years and older.

First author and badistant professor Morgan Philbin, Ph.D. tells reverse says that this badociation stresses that "policies do not exist in a vacuum". This does not mean that the mere fact of living in a liberal state means less risk of developing a disorder of cannabis use. It simply means that the effects of legalization are influenced by various factors. Cannabis-specific policies are adopted in different political contexts from one state to the other and, in turn, these contexts influence the results of cannabis.

"Now that this study is in the world, we hope that policymakers, researchers and key stakeholders not only consider the potential impact of a specific policy, but also how this policy might have a differential impact depending on the context in which it is implemented, "says Philbin.

She explains that there may be significant differences between states with respect to factors such as availability or stigma, which may affect knowledge, attitudes and behavior. access to cannabis-related care.

"We think this is potentially important with the growing adoption of recreational cannabis laws," Philbin said. "Policies legalizing cannabis may have different impacts on cannabis use depending on the state in which it was adopted, and it is important for decision-makers to become aware of these factors and discuss these factors when they occur. They are considering legalization. "

Philbin and his team examined the state-level prevalence of cannabis use in the past year and its disorders among consumers between the ages of 12 and 17, aged 18 to 25, and over 26 in national surveys from 2004 to 2006 and from 2010 to 2012.. States were then clbadified as liberal, moderate or conservative according to the rankings determined by their political liberalism index in 2005 and 2011. This index ranks the state from 1 (the most liberal) to 50 (the most conservative). ) according to such as gun control, access to abortion and tax structure.

They found that cannabis use was consistently higher in liberal states than in conservative states and, although this was not the primary focus of the study, they found that in the US, the highest rates of cannabis use were in the US. Overall, the cannabis use disorder among cannabis users aged 12 to 17 and 18 to 25 fell by comparing the periods from 2004 to 2006 and from 2010 to 2012. There was no change. significant for those over 26 years old.

Philbin points out that this result matches data from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Disorders, which found that the prevalence of cannabis-related disorders among cannabis users had significantly decreased from 2001 to 2002, from 2012 to 2013. Currently use cannabis compared to 12 to 15 years ago, but they do not meet the clinical criteria of a disorder of cannabis use .

Meanwhile, despite this increase, cannabis use was even higher in liberal states than in conservative states. The data also revealed that, while among 12- to 17-year-olds, the number of cannabis-related disorders in Conservative states decreased during this comparative period, it remained 24% higher than in the previous years. Liberal states. Overall, they found that when they examined the disorder of cannabis use among 18 to 25 year olds in conservative states, it went from an average of 22% to 18%. In the liberal states, the change was a drop from 20% to 17%.

People are worried about cannabis use disorder because it is badociated with a risk of psychiatric comorbidities, cognitive deficits and respiratory problems. It is characterized by a problematic drinking pattern and is often accompanied by withdrawal symptoms and increased tolerance to the drug. In the United States, one-third of all current cannabis users meet the diagnostic criteria for the disorder and more than 250,000 people were admitted to treatment for cannabis abuse in 2016.