@article{ref1,
title="Associations between medical cannabis and other drug use among unstably housed women",
journal="International journal on drug policy",
year="2017",
author="Meacham, Meredith C. and Ramo, Danielle E. and Kral, Alex H. and Riley, Elise D.",
volume="52",
number="",
pages="45-51",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Several studies suggest that U.S. state-level legalization of cannabis for medical purposes may be associated with reductions in opioid use; yet its relationship with stimulant use, particularly in high-risk populations like unstably housed women, has received less attention. The purpose of this study was to estimate independent associations between medical and non-medical use of cannabis and use of stimulants and opioids among unstably housed women. <br><br>METHODS: Cross-sectional data were analyzed from 245 women in the SHADOW study, a community based cohort in San Francisco, CA, in which HIV+ women were oversampled (126 HIV+ and 119 HIV-). <br><br>RESULTS: Compared to no cannabis use in the past 6 months (51%), non-medical cannabis use (28%) was associated with a higher adjusted odds of using stimulants (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]=4.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.17-8.70) and opioids (AOR=3.81, 95% CI: 1.78-8.15). Compared to no cannabis use, medical cannabis use (21%) was not significantly associated with stimulant or opioid use. Compared to non-medical cannabis use, however, medical cannabis use was associated with lower adjusted odds of using stimulants (AOR=0.42, 95% CI: 0.18-0.96). These associations were not modified by HIV status. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Associations between use of cannabis and &quot;street drugs&quot; depend on whether the cannabis is obtained through a medical context. Interventions, research, and policy considering the influence of cannabis on the use of other drugs may benefit by distinguishing between medical and non-medical cannabis use.<br><br>Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0955-3959",
doi="10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.11.009",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.11.009"
}