title: Relationship between marijuana and other illicit drug use and depression/suicidal thoughts among late middle-aged and older adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite growing numbers of older-adult illicit drug users, research on this topic is rare. This study examined the relationship between marijuana and/or other illicit drug use and major depressive episode (MDE) and serious suicidal thoughts among those aged 50+ years in the USA.
  
  
  METHODS
  The public use files of the 2008 to 2012 US National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) provided data on 29,634 individuals aged 50+ years. Logistic regression analysis was used to test hypothesized associations between past-year marijuana and/or other illicit drug use and MDE and serious suicidal thoughts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly 6% of the 50+ years age group reported past-year marijuana and/or other illicit drug use. Compared to non-users of any illicit drug, the odds of past-year MDE among those who used marijuana only, other illicit drugs only, and marijuana and other illicit drugs were 1.54 (95% CI = 1.17-2.03), 2.75 (95% CI = 1.75-4.33), and 2.12 (95% CI = 1.45-3.09), respectively. Those who used marijuana and other drugs also had higher odds (2.44, 95% CI = 1.58-3.77) of suicidal thoughts than non-users of any illicit drug. However, among users of any illicit drug, no difference was found among users of marijuana only, marijuana and other illicit drugs, and other illicit drugs only. Among marijuana users, marijuana use frequency was a significant correlate of suicidal thoughts only among those with MDE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health and mental health (MH) service providers should pay close attention to the potential reciprocal effects of marijuana and other illicit drug use and MDE and suicidal thoughts among late middle-aged and older adults.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work,1925 San Jacinto Blvd,D3500,Austin,TX 78712,USA.
authors.forename: Namkee G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work,1925 San Jacinto Blvd,D3500,Austin,TX 78712,USA.
authors.forename: Diana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: DiNitto
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work,1925 San Jacinto Blvd,D3500,Austin,TX 78712,USA.
authors.forename: C Nathan
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Marti
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine,Warren Alpert Medical School,Brown University,Providence,RI,USA.
authors.forename: Bryan Y
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002188:Cannabis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D057566:Self Report; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs
keywords: cannabis; depression; illicit drug; marijuana; older adults; suicidal ideation