Challenging the "inoffensiveness" of regular cannabis use by its associations with other current risky substance use--a census of 20-year-old Swiss men.
3,537 men enrolling in 2007 for mandatory army recruitment procedures were assessed for the co-occurrence of risky licit substance use among risky cannabis users. Risky cannabis use was defined as at least twice weekly; risky alcohol use as 6+ drinks more than once/monthly, or more than 20 drinks per week; and risky tobacco use as daily smoking. Ninety-five percent of all risky cannabis users reported other risky use. They began using cannabis earlier than did non-risky users, but age of onset was unrelated to other risky substance use. A pressing public health issue among cannabis users stems from risky licit substance use warranting preventive efforts within this age group.
Gmel
Gerhard
G
Alcohol Treatment Centre, Lausanne University Hospital CHUV, Mont-Paisible 16, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland. Gerhard.Gmel@chuv.ch
Gaume
Jacques
J
Willi
Carole
C
Michaud
Pierre-André
PA
Cornuz
Jacques
J
Daeppen
Jean-Bernard
JB
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002188:Cannabis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult