The epidemiology of cannabis use and cannabis-related harm in Australia 1993-2007.

AIMS To examine trends in patterns of cannabis use and related harm in the Australian population between 1993 and 2007. DESIGN Analysis of prospectively collected data from: (1) the National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) and Australian Secondary Student Alcohol and Drug Survey (ASSADS); (2) the National Hospital Morbidity Database (NHMD); and (3) the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Dataset (AODTS-NMDS). PARTICIPANTS Australians aged 14 years and over from the general population; students aged 12-17 years; public and private hospital in-patients; public and private in-patients and out-patients attending for drug treatment. MEASUREMENT Prevalence of 12-month cannabis use among the general population and secondary students. Proportions in the general population by age group reporting: daily cannabis use; difficulties in controlling cannabis use; and heavy cannabis use on each occasion. Number of hospital and treatment presentations for cannabis-related problems. FINDINGS Prevalence of past-year cannabis use has declined in the Australian population since the late 1990s. Among those reporting past-year use, daily use is prevalent among 40-49-year-olds, while heavy patterns of use are prevalent among 14-19-year-olds. Hospital presentations for cannabis-related problems reflect similar trends. Past-year cannabis use has decreased among the 10-19-year age group, but those who are daily users in this age group report using large quantities of cannabis. CONCLUSIONS Despite declines in the prevalence of cannabis use, continued public health campaigns warning of the harms associated with cannabis use are essential, aimed particularly at users who are already experiencing problems. The increasing demand for treatment for cannabis problems in Australia suggests the need for more accessible and more effective interventions for cannabis use disorders.

[1]  Mark B Powers,et al.  A meta-analytic review of psychosocial interventions for substance use disorders. , 2008, The American journal of psychiatry.

[2]  L. Liverpool.  United Kingdom Drug Situation , 2008 .

[3]  L. Degenhardt,et al.  Characteristics of drug-related hospital separations in Australia. , 2008, Drug and alcohol dependence.

[4]  O. Schulte-Herbrüggen,et al.  Cannabis and psychosis , 2007, The Lancet.

[5]  Elizabeth L. Ogburn,et al.  Prevalence, correlates, disability, and comorbidity of DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence in the United States: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. , 2007, Archives of general psychiatry.

[6]  J. Carlin,et al.  Trajectories of adolescent alcohol and cannabis use into young adulthood. , 2007, Addiction.

[7]  R. Mcketin,et al.  Hospital separations for cannabis‐ and methamphetamine‐related psychotic episodes in Australia , 2007, The Medical journal of Australia.

[8]  R. Bruno,et al.  Tasmanian Trends in Ecstasy and Related Drug Markets 2006: Findings from the Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS) , 2007 .

[9]  E. Augustson,et al.  Respiratory effects of marijuana and tobacco use in a U.S. sample , 2007, Journal of General Internal Medicine.

[10]  B. Grant,et al.  Prevalence, correlates, disability, and comorbidity of DSM-IV drug abuse and dependence in the United States: results from the national epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions. , 2007, Archives of general psychiatry.

[11]  V. White,et al.  Australian secondary school students’ use of over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2005 , 2006 .

[12]  L. Degenhardt,et al.  Is Cannabis Use a Contributory Cause of Psychosis? , 2006, Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie.

[13]  W. Hall.  The Mental Health Risks of Adolescent Cannabis Use , 2006, PLoS medicine.

[14]  D. Fergusson,et al.  Cannabis and psychosis , 2006, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[15]  M. Auriacombe,et al.  Psychotherapeutic interventions for cannabis abuse and/or dependence in outpatient settings. , 2006, The Cochrane database of systematic reviews.

[16]  P. Munk-Jørgensen,et al.  Cannabis-induced psychosis and subsequent schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: follow-up study of 535 incident cases , 2005, British Journal of Psychiatry.

[17]  R. Niesink,et al.  Strong increase in total delta‐THC in cannabis preparations sold in Dutch coffee shops , 2005, Addiction biology.

[18]  K. Carroll,et al.  Brief treatments for cannabis dependence: findings from a randomized multisite trial. , 2004, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[19]  B. Grant,et al.  Prevalence of Marijuana Use Disorders in the United States Design, Setting, and Participants Face-to-face Interviews Were Conducted in 2 , 2022 .

[20]  J. Copeland.  Developments in the treatment of cannabis use disorder , 2004 .

[21]  K. Clements.  Three Facts About Marijuana Prices , 2004 .

[22]  W. Hall,et al.  Cannabis Use and Dependence: Public Health and Public Policy , 2003 .

[23]  A. Beautrais,et al.  Cannabis and educational achievement. , 2003, Addiction.

[24]  C. Easton,et al.  Engaging young probation-referred marijuana-abusing individuals in treatment: a pilot trial. , 2003, The American journal on addictions.

[25]  J. Weekley,et al.  Australian Drug Trends 2003: Findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System , 2003 .

[26]  John B Carlin,et al.  Cannabis use and mental health in young people: cohort study , 2002, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[27]  R. Stephens,et al.  A randomized controlled trial of brief cognitive-behavioral interventions for cannabis use disorder. , 2001, Journal of substance abuse treatment.

[28]  W. Hall,et al.  Cannabis use and dependence among Australian adults: results from the National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. , 2001, Addiction.

[29]  K. Radonovich,et al.  Adding voucher-based incentives to coping skills and motivational enhancement improves outcomes during treatment for marijuana dependence. , 2000, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[30]  R. Stephens,et al.  Comparison of extended versus brief treatments for marijuana use. , 2000, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[31]  L. Degenhardt,et al.  Cohort trends in the age of initiation of drug use in Australia , 2000, Australian and New Zealand journal of public health.

[32]  R. Bruno,et al.  Tasmanian Drug Trends 2015. Findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) , 2000 .

[33]  L J Horwood,et al.  Early onset cannabis use and psychosocial adjustment in young adults. , 1997, Addiction.

[34]  J. Melkman,et al.  The Information Centre , 1961 .