Citation

Imtiaz S, Shield KD, Roerecke M, Cheng J, Popova S, Kurdyak P, Fischer B, Rehm J. Addiction 2015; 111(4): 653-662.

Affiliation

Institute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/add.13237

PMID

26598973

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cannabis use is associated with several adverse health effects. However, little is known about the cannabis-attributable burden of disease. This study quantified the age-, sex- and adverse health effect-specific cannabis-attributable (1) mortality, (2) years of life lost due to premature mortality (YLLs), (3) years of life lost due to disability (YLDs) and (4) disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in Canada in 2012.

DESIGN: Epidemiological modeling SETTING: Canada PARTICIPANTS: Canadians aged ≥ 15 years in 2012 MEASUREMENTS: Using Comparative Risk Assessment methodology, cannabis-attributable fractions were computed using Canadian exposure data and risk relations from large studies or meta-analyses. Outcome data were obtained from Canadian databases and the World Health Organization. The 95% confidence Intervals (CIs) were computed using Monte Carlo methodology.

FINDINGS: Cannabis use was estimated to have caused 287 deaths (95% CI: 108, 609), 10,533 YLLs (95% CI: 4,760, 20,833), 55,813 YLDs (95% CI: 38,175, 74,094) and 66,346 DALYs (95% CI: 47,785, 87,207), based on causal impacts on cannabis use disorders, schizophrenia, lung cancer and road traffic injuries. Cannabis-attributable burden of disease was highest among young people, and males accounted for twice the burden than females. Cannabis use disorders were the most important single cause of the cannabis-attributable burden of disease.

CONCLUSIONS: The cannabis-attributable burden of disease in Canada in 2012 included 55,813 years of life lost due to disability, mainly caused by cannabis use disorders. Although the cannabis-attributable burden of disease was substantial, it was much lower compared with other commonly used legal and illegal substances. Moreover, the evidence base for cannabis-attributable harms was smaller.


Keywords: Cannabis impaired driving

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Language: en