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Illicit drug use and prescription drug misuse among young adult medical cannabis patients and non-patient users in Los Angeles.

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION:Young adults have the highest rates of cannabis and other drug use, as compared to other age groups, and contribute a significant proportion to the total population of medical cannabis patients (MCP). However, little is known about the relationships between various cannabis practices and illicit drug use/prescription drug misuse among young adult cannabis users with and without legal access to medical cannabis. METHODS:210 MCP and 156 non-patient cannabis users (NPU) aged 18-26 were recruited in Los Angeles in 2014-15 for a longitudinal study assessing the impact of medical cannabis on health and substance use among emerging adults. For the present analysis, only quantitative baseline survey data were used. Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between past 90-day cannabis practices and other drug use, including illicit drug use and prescription drug misuse. RESULTS:Illicit drug use was associated with being non-Hispanic white (AOR?=?3.0, 95% CI 1.8-5.1), use of cannabis concentrates (AOR?=?2.8, 95% CI 1.6-4.9), while self-reported medical cannabis use was associated with lower probability of illicit drug use (AOR?=?0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.9). The odds of prescription drug misuse were increased for participants who reported use of cannabis edibles (AOR?=?2.0, 95% CI 1.1-3.5), and decreased with age (AOR?=?0.9, 95% CI 0.8-1.0) and for those who used cannabis alone (AOR?=?0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.9). CONCLUSION:Use of alternative cannabis forms, but not cannabis use frequency, were associated with greater odds of other drug use. Self-reported medical cannabis use, but not MCP status, decreased probability of illicit drug use.

SUBMITTER: Fedorova EV

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7336713 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Illicit drug use and prescription drug misuse among young adult medical cannabis patients and non-patient users in Los Angeles.

Fedorova Ekaterina V EV Schrager Sheree M SM Robinson Lucy F LF Cepeda Alice A Wong Carolyn F CF Iverson Ellen E Lankenau Stephen E SE

Drug and alcohol dependence 20190227

<h4>Introduction</h4>Young adults have the highest rates of cannabis and other drug use, as compared to other age groups, and contribute a significant proportion to the total population of medical cannabis patients (MCP). However, little is known about the relationships between various cannabis practices and illicit drug use/prescription drug misuse among young adult cannabis users with and without legal access to medical cannabis.<h4>Methods</h4>210 MCP and 156 non-patient cannabis users (NPU) ...[more]

PMID: 30861391

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Project description:BackgroundPrescription drug misuse is an escalating public health problem that is prevalent among college students. Various factors, such as sex, age, race, mental health conditions, and fraternity and sorority membership, increase the risk for prescription drug misuse. Peer influences may also pose significant risks for starting prescription drug misuse, because peers are the primary source of misused prescription drugs among college students.ObjectivesTo examine college students' beliefs about prescription drug misuse among their peers and to understand their beliefs about the available and potential intervention efforts to reduce prescription drug misuse.MethodWe conducted a cross-sectional survey of 312 college students aged 18 to 30 years who were enrolled in a large midwestern US university. The survey included questions about the responders' demographic characteristics, beliefs, and perceptions regarding prescription drug misuse among their peers and potential reduction programs for prescription drug misuse.ResultsThe respondents' mean age was 21 years, and most (65%) respondents were women. A majority (90%) of the respondents were enrolled in the university as full-time students. More than 60% of the respondents reported knowing someone with prescription drug misuse in the past 12 months. Fraternity or sorority members were more likely to report peer prescription drug misuse than nonmembers (83% vs 60%, respectively; P = .017). Stimulants were the most misused drug class, accounting for 75% of all reported peer prescription drug misuse. Approximately 60% of the misused prescription drugs were sourced from peers, which included friends, roommates, and classmates. A total of 73% of respondents said that prescription drug misuse was a problem among college students and 67% agreed that interventions were needed to reduce prescription drug misuse. The perceived need for interventions varied by peer prescription drug misuse. A total of 90% of students whose peers did not misuse prescription drugs said that interventions were needed, but only 67% of those with peer prescription drug misuse thought that interventions were needed.ConclusionOur findings indicate that peer prescription drug misuse is very common among college students, and the most misused drug class is stimulants. Survey respondents perceived that the current interventions used to address prescription drug misuse are not very effective or may not be targeting the right population. Peer prescription drug misuse influences college students' perceptions about the risks and harms of prescription drug misuse, as well as the need for interventions.

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Illicit drug use and prescription drug misuse among young adult medical cannabis patients and non-patient users in Los Angeles.

Publications

Illicit drug use and prescription drug misuse among young adult medical cannabis patients and non-patient users in Los Angeles.

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