title: [Cannabis use in a central region of Tunisia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine the sociodemographic characteristics of cannabis users, their consumption patterns, and effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our cross-sectional, descriptive study included 205 subjects (191 men, 14 women, mean age = 25.9 ± 7.9 years). The consumption of psychotropic drugs and/or cannabis was confirmed by toxicological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our study population, 61% were cannabis users. Consumption was significantly higher in males (94.4%) than in females. Consumers were young adults, aged 25.8 ± 8.8 years, single (81.6%), had primary school educations (62.4%), were employed (72%) and lived in urban areas (77.6%); 28.8% had a personal history of psychiatric disorders. The mean age of first cannabis use was 20 years. Cannabis use was frequently associated with consumption of alcohol and tobacco (72%). Forty percent of consumers used cannabis daily. Most of those who had used drugs had done so with friends. In most cases, cannabis was regarded as a means of escape from problems (29.3%), relaxation (20.2%), experimentation (18.2%) and a source of pleasure (16.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest the importance of primary prevention of early use and rapid treatment of young users.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital universitaire Fattouma-Bourguiba de Monastir, Laboratoire de biochimie-toxicologie 5000 Monastir Tunisie. hajer_mabrouk@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Hajer
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mabrouk
authors.forename: Haithem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mechria
authors.forename: Anwar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mechri
authors.forename: Wahiba
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Douki
authors.forename: Lotfi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gaha
authors.forename: Mohamed Fadhel
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Najjar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult