Associations of age at cannabis first use and later substance abuse with mental health and depression in young men

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Serval ID
serval:BIB_D9DB26FF7A0A
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
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Institution
Title
Associations of age at cannabis first use and later substance abuse with mental health and depression in young men
Journal
Journal of Substance Use
Author(s)
Henchoz Yves, N'Goran Alexandra A, Baggio Stéphanie, Deline Stéphane, Studer Joseph, Gmel Gerhard
ISSN
1465-9891
ISSN-L
1475-9942
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2016
Volume
21
Number
1
Pages
85-91
Language
english
Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to determine if the associations between age at cannabis first use and mental health and depression persist after controlling for the misuse of cannabis, other illicit drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.
Methods: Baseline data from an ongoing cohort study on substance use risk factors were used (N ¼ 5521). The association between age at cannabis first use and the frequency of cannabis use was assessed using a Cox proportional hazard model. Associations with other illicit drug use, alcohol dependence, nicotine dependence, mental health and depression were tested using linear regressions and logistic regressions.
Results: Participants using cannabis ''almost every day'' were on an average two years younger at cannabis first use than those using cannabis ''once a month or less''. Age at cannabis first use was also associated with other illicit drug use, alcohol dependence and nicotine dependence. Associations with mental health and depression were substantially attenuated after adjustment for the misuse of cannabis and other substances.
Conclusions: These findings show that early cannabis onset is associated with later impairments in mental health and depression; however, these are largely explained by later substance abuse. Effective preventive measures are needed to delay cannabis onset and to avoid the progression from cannabis to using other drugs.
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Create date
04/12/2015 12:38
Last modification date
20/08/2019 15:59
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