scholarly journals Substance use, affective symptoms, and suicidal ideation among Russian, Somali, and Kurdish migrants in Finland

2020 ◽  
pp. 136346152090602
Author(s):  
Essi Salama ◽  
Anu E. Castaneda ◽  
Jaana Suvisaari ◽  
Shadia Rask ◽  
Tiina Laatikainen ◽  
...  

Comorbidity of substance use with affective symptoms and suicidality has been well documented in the general population. However, population-based migrant studies about this association are scarce. We examined the association of affective symptoms and suicidal ideation with binge drinking, daily smoking, and lifetime cannabis use among Russian, Somali, and Kurdish migrants in comparison with the Finnish general population. Cross-sectional data from the Finnish Migrant Health and Wellbeing Study (Maamu, n = 1307) and comparison group data of the general Finnish population ( n = 860) from the Health 2011 Survey were used. Substance use included self-reported current binge drinking, daily smoking, and lifetime cannabis use. Affective symptoms and suicidal ideation were measured using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25). We performed multivariate logistic regression analyses, including age, gender, and additional socio-demographic and migration-related factors. Suicidal ideation (OR 2.4 95% CI 1.3–4.3) was associated with binge drinking among Kurds and lifetime cannabis use among Russians (OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.9–17.0) and Kurds (OR 5.5, 95% CI 1.9–15.6). Affective symptoms were associated with daily smoking (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.02–2.6) and lifetime cannabis use (OR 6.1, 95% CI 2.6–14.5) among Kurdish migrants. Our results draw attention to the co-occurrence of suicidal ideation, affective symptoms, and substance use, especially among Kurdish migrants. These results highlight the variation of comorbidity of substance use and affective symptoms between the different populations. This implies that screening for substance use in mental healthcare cannot be neglected based on presumed habits of substance use.

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M El Ghardallou ◽  
J Sahli ◽  
M Mellouli ◽  
M Limam ◽  
C Zedini ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Experimentation with substance use is common during adolescence. Substance use may result in many health-related problems and contribute to adolescent suicidal behavior. We conducted this study to examine the relationship between substance use and suicidal ideation. Methods This is a cross sectional study conducted among a representative sample of 2020 adolescents enrolled in Tunisian secondary schools using a self-administered questionnaire. Results The prevalence of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use was respectively 3.7% (95% CI [2.87%-4.52%]), 4.4% (95% CI [3.5%-5.29%]) and 0.8% (95% CI [0.40%-1.18%]) Overall, 17.0% (95% CI [15.3%-18.6%]) reported having suicide ideation during the past 12 months. Tobacco (Odds Ratio = 2.61; 95% CI = 1.59–4.29), alcohol (Odds Ratio = 2.77; 95% CI = 1.76–4.36), and cannabis use (Odds Ratio = 4.98; 95% CI = 1.85–13.96) were significantly associated with suicidal thoughts among adolescents (p < 10-3). Conclusions This cross study has shown a significant association between substance use and suicidal ideation. This relationship can be bidirectional and suicidal ideation and substance use may affect each other. Key messages In his study, the prevalence of substance use was relatively low and was associated with suicidal ideations. The reciprocal link between the two problems and their co-occurrence should be taken into account when planning preventive substance use and suicide programs.


Author(s):  
Sherry Stewart ◽  
Kayla Joyce ◽  
Phillip Tibbo ◽  
Nacera Hanzal ◽  
Kimberley Good

Background: Women with PMS have higher rates of substance use disorders but underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Research on the links of PMS to problematic substance use has largely omitted consideration of cannabis use. Design/Method: To fill these gaps, 87 cannabis using women (mean age = 28.9 years) completed a cross-sectional survey involving self-reports on their PMS symptoms on the Pre-Menstrual Scale – Short Form (PMS-SF), their usual motives for cannabis use on the Marijuana Motives Measure (MMM), their frequency of cannabis use in the last 30 days on the Cannabis Timeline Followback (C-TLFB), and their level of cannabis use problems on the Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test (CUDIT). Analyses/Results: A series of multiple regressions were performed, along with Sobel tests of indirect effects, to examine the potential mediational role of cannabis motives in explaining the expected links of PMS symptoms with cannabis use frequency and problems. Separate models were run with cannabis use frequency and problems as outcomes, and with PMS affective and physiological symptoms as predictors. In each case, both coping motives and social motives (as a control to determine specificity) were tested as simultaneous mediators. PMS Affective (but not Physiological) symptoms were indirectly positively related to both cannabis use frequency and problems through Coping (but not Social) motives for use (Sobel tests = 2.01 and 2.26, respectively, p’s < .05). Discussion: Findings suggest that it is the affective symptoms of PMS (e.g., depressed mood), rather than the physiological symptoms (e.g., bloating, pain), that drive more frequent and problematic cannabis use in women. Moreover, the mechanism to explain this link appears to be coping (but not social) motives for cannabis use. Thus, those women with greater levels of PMS affective symptoms appear to use cannabis more frequently and problematically than other women by way of their greater use of cannabis to cope with negative mood.


2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 201-210
Author(s):  
Aganeta Enns ◽  
Heather Orpana

Introduction There has been increasing attention on preventing problematic youth substance use in light of concerns about rates of use and policy changes in Canada. Strengths-based approaches that emphasize protective factors, including positive mental health, are at the forefront of current prevention recommendations. However, there is a dearth of research on the association between positive mental health and substance use among youth. This study examines the associations between cannabis and alcohol use among youth and positive mental health as measured through the lens of self-determination theory. Methods Secondary analyses of the 2014/2015 Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey (CSTADS) were conducted. Participating Grade 7 to 12 students residing in Canada completed the Children's Intrinsic Needs Satisfaction Scale (CINSS), which measures autonomy, competence and relatedness, and answered questions that measure past 30-day and more frequent cannabis use, alcohol use and binge-drinking. The associations between autonomy, competence and relatedness and substance use, stratified by sex, were examined using logistic regression. Results Fully adjusted models revealed that relatedness and competence were associated with lower odds of 30-day and more frequent cannabis use, alcohol use and binge-drinking. Higher autonomy was associated with higher odds of these behaviours. All associations were significant with the exception of competence and more frequent cannabis use among boys, and autonomy and more frequent alcohol use among girls. Conclusion The findings offer new evidence on the associations between positive mental health and substance use among youth, specifically how autonomy, competence and relatedness are associated with cannabis use, alcohol use and binge-drinking. This evidence can be used to inform health promotion and substance use prevention programs.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S315-S316 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Salama ◽  
S. Niemelä ◽  
A. Castaneda

IntroductionAlthough substance use is a well-known public health risk factor, European population-based studies reporting the substance use among adult migrant populations are scarce.ObjectivesWe aim to: (1) determine the prevalence of alcohol use, cigarette smoking and consumption cannabis and intravenous drugs in Russian, Somali and Kurdish migrants in Finland and compare them to those of the Finnish general population; (2) determine if socio-economic and migration-related factors are associated with substance use in migrants.MethodsWe used data primarily from the Finnish migrant health and well-being study. Alcohol use was measured with the AUDIT-C questionnaire, smoking habits and the lifetime cannabis and intravenous drug use were recorded. Age-adjusted prevalence rates were determined by ethnicity and sex. The associations between background factors and substance use were analysed using logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe prevalence rate of risky drinking is lower and the proportion of abstainers is higher in migrants than in the general population. Current smoking is more common in Russian (31%, P < 0,05) and Kurdish (31%, P < 0,05) migrant men than in the general population (21%). Younger age was associated with risky drinking, socioeconomic disadvantage increased the odd for the daily smoking among migrants, and migration-related factors were associated with substance use.ConclusionsMigrants report less substance use than the general population, but acculturation-related factors seem to be associated with higher levels of substance use among migrants. Substance use seems to be a gendered phenomenon in migrant populations in comparison to the general population, where lately the alcohol and tobacco consumption of women have been growing.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


Author(s):  
Danica Loralyn Taylor ◽  
Janice F. Bell ◽  
Susan L. Adams ◽  
Christiana Drake

Abstract Introduction Passage of cannabis laws may impact cannabis use and the use of other substances. The suggested association is of particular concern in pregnant women where exposure to substances can cause harm to both the pregnant woman and fetus. The present study contributes to the minimal literature on factors associated with cannabis use during the preconception, prenatal, and postpartum periods including state legalization status, concurrent use of tobacco and e-cigarettes and adequacy of prenatal care. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using combined survey data from the 2016–2018 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) collected from 36,391 women. Logistic regression was used to estimate the impact of state-legalization, adequacy of prenatal care, and other substance use on cannabis use during the preconception, prenatal, and post-partum periods. Results In the preconception model, residence in a recreationally legal state (OR: 2.37; 95% CI, 2.04–2.75) or medically legal state (OR:3.32; 95% CI, 2.90–3.80) compared to a non-legal state was associated with higher odds of cannabis use. In the prenatal model, residence in a recreationally legal state was associated with higher odds of cannabis use (OR: 1.51; 95% CI, 1.29–1.79) whereas there was no association with residence in a medically legal state. Tobacco use including e-cigarettes and moderate prenatal alcohol use were also significantly associated with cannabis use. Conclusion Recreational cannabis legalization is associated with the use of cannabis prior to, during, and after pregnancy. Renewed clinical and policy efforts may be warranted to update prenatal substance use prevention programs, educational campaigns, and provider education as cannabis legalization evolves.


2018 ◽  
Vol 212 (4) ◽  
pp. 227-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antti Mustonen ◽  
Solja Niemelä ◽  
Tanja Nordström ◽  
Graham K. Murray ◽  
Pirjo Mäki ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe association between cannabis use and the risk of psychosis has been studied extensively but the temporal order still remains controversial.AimsTo examine the association between cannabis use in adolescence and the risk of psychosis after adjustment for prodromal symptoms and other potential confounders.MethodThe sample (n = 6534) was composed of the prospective general population-based Northern Finland Birth Cohort of 1986. Information on prodromal symptoms of psychosis and cannabis use was collected using questionnaires at age 15–16 years. Participants were followed up for ICD-10 psychotic disorders until age 30 years using nationwide registers.ResultsThe risk of psychosis was elevated in individuals who had tried cannabis five times or more (hazard ratio, (HR) = 6.5, 95% CI 3.0–13.9). The association remained statistically significant even when adjusted for prodromal symptoms, other substance use and parental psychosis (HR = 3.0, 95% CI 1.1–8.0).ConclusionsAdolescent cannabis use is associated with increased risk of psychosis even after adjustment for baseline prodromal symptoms, parental psychosis and other substance use.Declaration of interestNone.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Thomas ◽  
Lauren Micalizzi ◽  
Samuel N. Meisel ◽  
Dayna Price ◽  
Anthony Spirito

Although siblings are conceptualized as a salient social influence during adolescence, few studies have examined how adolescent siblings influence each other’s substance use and risky sexual behavior. This study’s objective was to investigate the influence of alcohol use days, cannabis use days, and cannabis and alcohol co-use days on the sexual risk behavior of siblings while accounting for dyadic influence. At the baseline visit for a randomized controlled trial for adolescents referred due to parents’ concerns about their substance use (“referred adolescents”; n=99; Mage=15.95), we assessed alcohol and cannabis use days as well as sexual risk behavior of the referred adolescents and their sibling (Mage=15.03). We computed the number of days in the 30 days prior to the baseline that alcohol and cannabis use occurred on the same day. Using a cross-sectional actor partner interdependence model, we tested two models of how adolescents’ substance use is associated with their own (“actor effect”) and their siblings’ (“partner effect”) sexual risk behavior—one model for alcohol and cannabis use, and one model for co-use. Results indicated for referred adolescents and their siblings, within an individual, greater alcohol, cannabis, and co-use was significantly associated with sexual risk behavior (actor effects). Furthermore, more sibling co-use days were positively associated with referred adolescent sexual risk behavior (partner effect), representing interdependence. These findings confirm the influence siblings have on one another’s risky behavior in adolescence and have implications for prevention and intervention efforts for adolescent substance use.


Crisis ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Bryan Tanner ◽  
Anne M. Doherty

Abstract. Background: Suicide is a serious problem in the Traveller community, with rates estimated at 11%: over 6 times that of the general population. Aims: We aimed to establish the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation (SI) and self-harm (SH) among Irish Travellers. Method: This was an observational cross-sectional cohort study of patients presenting with SH and SI to a tertiary hospital in Ireland, in an area with a large local Traveller population. Data were analyzed from the anonymized database ( n = 2,016), comparing characteristics of Travellers and the general population. Results: This study found that Travellers (1.6% of the local population) represent 4.3% of the population seen in hospital with SH and SI, and 14.8% of episodes. There was a significant difference in SH methods used: Travellers were significantly more likely to present following attempted hanging, ( OR = 21.8; p = .004). Travellers were more commonly diagnosed with depression or substance abuse, referred from critical care, and transferred for inpatient psychiatric treatment. Limitations: Limitations include the use of retrospective data from a service activity database rather than clinical information collected prospectively. Conclusion: There are significant differences in patterns of suicidal behaviors between Irish Travellers and the general population. Further research is required to understand and address the high rates of suicidal behaviors in this population.


2001 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louisa Degenhardt ◽  
Wayne Hall ◽  
Michael Lynskey

Author(s):  
Michaela S Randall ◽  
Carly M Moody ◽  
Patricia V Turner

Compassion fatigue (CF) is a topic of increasing concern because it can affect the mental wellbeing of caregivers, includingthose caring for or using research animals. If unaddressed, compassion fatigue may adversely impact the quality of life forpersonnel working with animals in research settings and may influence their decision to remain in the field. This study useda cross-sectional anonymous online questionnaire to 1) examine compassion fatigue in individuals working with research animals in Canada and the US; 2) better understand how personal and work-related factors may influence feelings of CF; 3) assess coping mechanisms used to deal with CF; and 4) determine the beneficial components of a CF support program. A questionnaire was sent to laboratory animal professionals in Canada and the US via email listserves to survey the general population of laboratory animal workers and personnel working for a large North American contract research organization (CRO). A total of 422 responses were received and analyzed (n = 154 from the general population, n = 268 from the CRO). Most participants were female (73%, 309/422); 66% (101/154) and 69% (184/268) of the general laboratory animal science respondents and the CRO respondents, respectively, reported experiencing feelings of CF. Survey participants indicated that the most influential work-related factors associated with feelings of CF were understaffing, close relationships with experimental animals, a lack of resources for coping with CF, poor relationships with superiors, and lack of training in managing CF. Respondents indicated that the most influential personal factors contributing to feelings of CF were poor mental and physical health. The most commonly reported beneficial coping mechanisms were talking to a trusted individual, getting away from work, practicing self-care strategies, increasing opportunities for physical activity, and owning or caring for companion animals.


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