title: Lifetime influences for cannabis cessation in male incarcerated indigenous australians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Urban non-indigenous populations report life events (marriages, employment) as influences for self-initiated cannabis cessation. However, this hasn't been investigated in remote indigenous populations with different social paradigms.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigate cannabis use, harms, and poly-substance misuse in 101 consenting male incarcerated indigenous Australians. Interviews applied quantitative and qualitative questions assessing demographic characteristics, criminal history, drug use, the Marijuana Problems Inventory (MPI), and cannabis-cessation influences. Comparisons used Chi Square, Analysis of Variance, and Nvivo software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cannabis use groups (current users, ex-users, and never users) were demographically similar except that current users reported more juvenile legal problems, younger school departure, and lower school achievement (p < 0.05). Mean cannabis consumption was 12.3 cones/day. Incarceration and family responsibilities were the strongest cessation influences. Employment responsibilities and negative self-image were rarely cited as influences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High cannabis use, with its associated problems, is concerning. These identified influences indicate incarceration should be used for substance reduction programs, plus post-release follow-up. Community-based programs focusing on positive influences, such as family responsibilities and social cohesion, may be successful within indigenous populations with strong kinship responsibilities, rather than programs that focus solely on substance harms.
authors.affiliation: a Post-doctoral Research Fellow , The Cairns Institute, James Cook University , Queensland , Australia.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jacups
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rogerson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D017533:Marital Status; D020380:Needs Assessment; D044382:Population Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: cannabis; cessation; incarceration; indigenous; poly drug use; substance abuse