title: Substance Use, Health, and Functioning Characteristics of Medical Marijuana Program Participants Compared to the General Adult Population in Ontario (Canada).
abstract: Existent profiles of Medical Marijuana Program (MMP) participants indicate common and co-morbid chronic diseases, yet evidence on disability or functioning as well as comparisons with general populations are largely lacking. This study compared health, substance use, and functioning status among formally approved MMP participants with the general adult population in Ontario (Canada). A community-recruited sample (n = 53) of MMP participants was compared to a sub-sample (n = 510) of the representative Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Monitor (2015 cycle) survey of Ontario general population adults (ages 18+) based on identical telephone-based interviews regarding substance use, health, and functioning measures. Means and standard deviations for all indicators were computed by sex, controlled for age and education, and compared by regression techniques. MMP participants were more likely to be male, younger, and less socio-economically integrated; they indicated more common psychoactive substance (e.g., tobacco, daily cannabis) and psychotropic medication use, as well as overall worse physical and mental health and functioning status. Marked differences between MMP participants and general population adults were observed. MMPs appear to attract individuals with complex chronic health problems; however, little is known about the impact of MMP participation on these.
authors.affiliation: a Senior Scientist, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research , Centre for Addiction & Mental Health , Toronto , Canada.|b Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Medical Science, Centre for Criminology & Socio-legal Studies , University of Toronto , Toronto , Canada.
authors.forename: Benedikt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: c Research Methods Specialist, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research , Centre for Addiction & Mental Health , Toronto , Canada.
authors.forename: Anca R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Ialomiteanu
authors.affiliation: d Graduate Research Assistant, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research , Centre for Addiction & Mental Health , Toronto , Canada.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aeby
authors.affiliation: d Graduate Research Assistant, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research , Centre for Addiction & Mental Health , Toronto , Canada.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rudzinski
authors.affiliation: e Director, Health Outcomes and Performance Evaluation Research Unit , Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction & Mental Health , Toronto , Canada.|f Core Senior Scientist and Lead, Mental Health and Addictions Research Program , Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences , Toronto , Canada.|g Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry , University of Toronto , Toronto , Canada.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kurdyak
authors.affiliation: h Senior Director, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research , Centre for Addiction & Mental Health , Toronto , Canada.|i Professor and Chair, Dalla Lana School of Public Health , University of Toronto , Toronto , Canada.|j Professor, Department of Psychiatry , University of Toronto , Toronto , Canada.|k Head, Research Unit , Technische Universität Dresden , Dresden , Germany.|l Faculty Member, Institute of Medical Science , University of Toronto , Toronto , Canada.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rehm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064086:Medical Marijuana / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D064086:Medical Marijuana; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: Canada; disability; functioning; medical marijuana; mental health; physical health