Self-reported Medicinal Cannabis Use as an Alternative to Prescription and Over-the-counter Medication Use Among US Military Veterans.

Background: Mental and other physical health concerns and substance use disorder are common and co-occurring events experienced by US veterans. Treatment with medicinal cannabis is a potential alternative to unwanted medication use for veterans, but more clinical and epidemiologic research is needed to understand the risks and benefits.

Methods: Data were collected from a cross-sectional, self-reported, anonymous survey asking US veterans about their health conditions, medical treatments, demographics, and medicinal cannabis use along with its self-reported effectiveness.

The association between self-reported mental health status and alcohol and drug abstinence 5 years post-assessment for an addiction disorder in U.S. and Swedish samples.

This study compared whether self-reported mental health status was associated with likelihood of being abstinent from alcohol and drugs five years after baseline assessment for an addiction disorder in two representative samples; one from Sweden (n = 469) and one from the US (n = 667). Self-reported mental health status was measured through the ASI score of mental health symptoms and history of inpatient and/or outpatient treatment. Through logistic regression modeling the study controlled for demographic characteristics including age, gender, employment status and social network connection with individuals who do not use alcohol/drugs.

Association between immigrant status and history of compulsory treatment in a national sample of individuals assessed for drug use disorders through the Swedish public welfare system.

In-person interview data from 13,903 individuals assessed for a drug use disorder in the Swedish welfare system from 2002-2008, were analyzed using logistic regression methods. Second generation immigrants with non-Scandinavian parents were 41% more likely to report a history of compulsory treatment compared to those born in Sweden to Swedish parents after controlling for age, gender, education, mental health treatment homeless status history, and criminal justice history. Implications include the need to study acculturation, stigma, and discrimination-related factors as well as to promote culturally competent outreach to immigrant populations.