Marijuana legalization in Colorado: Increasing Potency, Changing Risk Perceptions, and Emerging Public Health Concerns for Youth

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse D. Hinckley ◽  
Christian Hopfer
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Marijuana Use ◽  
High Potency ◽  
Product Availability ◽  
Political Processes ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Marijuana Legalization ◽  
Treatment Considerations ◽  
History Of

Background: Marijuana legalization occurred gradually in Colorado through political processes. Objectives: This study aimed to describe the history of marijuana legalization and correlated shifts in product availability, use patterns, and risk perceptions and describe associated emerging concerns with this process for adolescents and young adults. Methods: This review focuses on the history of marijuana legalization and correlated shifts in product availability, use patterns, and risk perceptions. Results: Along with the legalization of marijuana, there has been strong commercialization characterized by the widespread development of dispensaries, new products including edibles and concentrates, and an overall lowering of the “price per serving” of marijuana. While the frequency of marijuana use among adolescents does not appear to have shifted substantially, young adult patterns of use have demonstrated an increase in usage. A substantial shift has occurred in the increasing use of concentrates and high potency products. Emerging concerns related to high potency products include increased acute care visits, prevalence and outcomes of comorbid mental health disorders, cannabis-induced psychosis, driving while high, marijuana-related lung injuries, and increased use during pregnancy. Yet, there are also potential medical uses of marijuana. Conclusion: To date, scientific evidence of the mental or physical effects of high potency products is currently very limited. Clinical issues related to the treatment of marijuana use and comorbid psychiatric disorders in youth are discussed, focusing on how low-risk perceptions influence treatment considerations.

Older marijuana users’ marijuana risk perceptions: associations with marijuana use patterns and marijuana and other substance use disorders

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. 1311-1322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Namkee G. Choi ◽  
Diana M. DiNitto ◽  
C. Nathan Marti
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
Substance Use Disorders ◽  
Great Risk ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Medical Marijuana ◽  
Marijuana Use ◽  
Use Patterns

ABSTRACTBackground:Compared to their non-using age peers, older marijuana users are known to have lower marijuana risk perceptions. We examined associations of older marijuana users’ risk perceptions with their marijuana use patterns and substance use disorders.Methods:Data are from 2013 to 2015 National Survey of Drug Use and Health (N = 24,057 respondents aged 50+ years). Bivariate logistic regression was used to compare risk perceptions among never users, former users, and past-year users aged 50+ years. Multivariable logistic regression was used to test associations between risk perception and marijuana use status and between risk perception and marijuana use patterns.Results:Among the total sample, former (AOR = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.27–0.32) and past-year (AOR = 0.05, 95% CI = 0.04–0.06) marijuana users had significantly lower odds of moderate/great risk perception (as opposed to no/slight risk perception) than never users. Among past-year users, odds of moderate/great risk perception were lower among those who used marijuana more frequently (AOR = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.07–0.28 for 300+ days of use compared to 1–11 days of use) and who reported any medical marijuana use (AOR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.14–0.51). However, those who had marijuana use disorder were 3.5 times more likely to report moderate/great risk perception (AOR = 3.50, 95% CI = 1.62–7.58). Those who had a college education, had higher incomes, and resided in states with medical marijuana laws also had lower risk perceptions.Conclusions:Public health education on scientific evidence about marijuana's benefits and harms and age-appropriate treatment for older adults with substance use problems are needed. Research on risk perception formation using longitudinal data among older adults is also needed.

scholarly journals E-cigarette Use, Tobacco Product Polyuse, and Motivations for Use among Baltimore Young Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 427-437
Author(s):  
Daisy Le ◽  
Meghan B. Moran ◽  
Rebkha Atnafou ◽  
Pamela A. Matson ◽  
Miranda R. Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Tobacco Cessation ◽  
Tobacco Product ◽  
Urban Setting ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
History Of

Objective: We examined reasons for e-cigarette use, tobacco product polyuse, and tobacco cessation interest among tobacco-using young adults from an urban setting. Methods: Participants (N = 97) completed a risk factor survey. Descriptive statistics and prevalence estimates of polytobacco use patterns, motivations for tobacco use, tobacco cessation interest, and beliefs and risk perceptions about tobacco use were explored. Results: All participants had a history of polyuse, and 85% were current polyusers. Stress was the primary reason reported for tobacco use. Compared to single-product users, current polyusers also were more likely to mention environment and cheap cost as reasons for use. Most participants perceived cigarettes to be as addictive as cocaine or heroin, although this perception was less common among e-cigarette users than non-users. Among study participants, 59% reported wanting to stop using tobacco completely. Among current polyusers, those that used e-cigarettes were more likely to report cessation attempts during the past year and express interest in enrolling in a quit smoking text messaging program. Conclusion: In our sample there was a high prevalence of polytobacco product use and complex tobacco use patterns among young adults, both in and out of college, from an urban community.

Comparative Analysis: The State of Colorado Study, Part II

2004 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Christopher R. Brigham ◽  
Kathryn Mueller ◽  
Douglas Van Zet ◽  
Debra J. Northrup ◽  
Edward B. Whitney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Daily Living ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Pain Syndrome ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Clinical Assessments ◽  
Physician Judgment ◽  
History Of ◽  
Key Terms ◽  
Causation Analysis ◽  
Work Interference

Abstract [Continued from the January/February 2004 issue of The Guides Newsletter.] To understand discrepancies in reviewers’ ratings of impairments based on different editions of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides), users can usefully study the history of the revisions as successive editions attempted to provide a comprehensive, valid, reliable, unbiased, and evidence-based system. Some shortcomings of earlier editions have been addressed in the AMA Guides, Fifth Edition, but problems remain with each edition, largely because of the limited scientific evidence available. In the context of the history of the different editions of the AMA Guides and their development, the authors discuss and contextualize a number of key terms and principles including the following: definitions of impairment and normal; activities of daily living; maximum medical improvement; impairment percentages; conversion of regional impairments; combining impairments; pain and other subjective complaints; physician judgment; and causation analysis; finally, the authors note that impairment is not synonymous with disability or work interference. The AMA Guides, Fifth Edition, contrasts impairment evaluations and independent medical evaluations (this was not done in previous editions) and discusses impairment evaluations, rules for evaluations, and report standards. Upper extremity and lower extremity impairment evaluations are discussed in terms of clinical assessments and rating processes, analyzing important changes between editions and problematic areas (eg, complex regional pain syndrome).

Treatment of varicose tributaries with sclerotherapy with polidocanol 0.5 % foam

VASA ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reich-Schupke ◽  
Weyer ◽  
Altmeyer ◽  
Stücker
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
Severe Adverse Effect ◽  
Safe Procedure ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Foam Sclerotherapy ◽  
History Of ◽  
One Year ◽  
Additional Therapy

Background: Although foam sclerotherapy of varicose tributaries is common in daily practice, scientific evidence for the optimal sclerosant-concentration and session-frequency is still low. This study aimed to increase the knowledge on foam sclerotherapy of varicose tributaries and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of foam sclerotherapy with 0.5 % polidocanol in tributaries with 3-6 mm in diameter. Patients and methods: Analysis of 110 legs in 76 patients. Injections were given every second or third day. A maximum of 1 injection / leg and a volume of 2ml / injection were administered per session. Controls were performed approximately 6 months and 12 months after the start of therapy. Results: 110 legs (CEAP C2-C4) were followed up for a period of 14.2 ± 4.2 months. Reflux was eliminated after 3.4 ± 2.7 injections per leg. Insufficient tributaries were detected in 23.2 % after 6.2 ± 0.9 months and in 48.2 % after 14.2 ± 4.2 months, respectively. Only 30.9 % (34 / 110) of the legs required additional therapy. In 6.4 % vein surgery was performed, in 24.5 % similar sclerotherapy was repeated. Significantly fewer sclerotherapy-sessions were required compared to the initial treatment (mean: 2.3 ± 1.4, p = 0.0054). During the whole study period thrombophlebitis (8.2 %), hyperpigmentation (14.5 %), induration in the treated region (9.1 %), pain in the treated leg (7.3 %) and migraine (0.9 %) occurred. One patient with a history of thrombosis developed thrombosis of a muscle vein (0.9 %). After one year there were just hyperpigmentation (8.2 %) and induration (1.8 %) left. No severe adverse effect occurred. Conclusions: Foam sclerotherapy with injections of 0.5 % polidocanol every 2nd or 3rd day, is a safe procedure for varicose tributaries. The evaluation of efficacy is difficult, as it can hardly be said whether the detected tributaries in the controls are recurrent veins or have recently developed in the follow-up period. The low number of retreated legs indicates a high efficacy and satisfaction of the patients.

Political psychology

2013 ◽  
Vol 154 (16) ◽  
pp. 619-626
Author(s):  
Mária Resch ◽  
Tamás Bella
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Political Psychology ◽  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Political Institutions ◽  
Cognitive Mapping ◽  
Medical Sciences ◽  
Political Processes ◽  
Behavioural Patterns ◽  
Essential Components ◽  
History Of

In Hungary one can mostly find references to the psychological processes of politics in the writings of publicists, public opinion pollsters, philosophers, social psychologists, and political analysts. It would be still important if not only legal scientists focusing on political institutions or sociologist-politologists concentrating on social structures could analyse the psychological aspects of political processes; but one could also do so through the application of the methods of political psychology. The authors review the history of political psychology, its position vis-à-vis other fields of science and the essential interfaces through which this field of science, which is still to be discovered in Hungary, connects to other social sciences. As far as its methodology comprising psycho-biographical analyses, questionnaire-based queries, cognitive mapping of interviews and statements are concerned, it is identical with the psychiatric tools of medical sciences. In the next part of this paper, the focus is shifted to the essence and contents of political psychology. Group dynamics properties, voters’ attitudes, leaders’ personalities and the behavioural patterns demonstrated by them in different political situations, authoritativeness, games, and charisma are all essential components of political psychology, which mostly analyses psychological-psychiatric processes and also involves medical sciences by relying on cognitive and behavioural sciences. This paper describes political psychology, which is basically part of social sciences, still, being an interdisciplinary science, has several ties to medical sciences through psychological and psychiatric aspects. Orv. Hetil., 2013, 154, 619–626.

scholarly journals Modelling the COVID-19 pandemic in context: an international participatory approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. e003126
Author(s):  
Ricardo Aguas ◽  
Lisa White ◽  
Nathaniel Hupert ◽  
Rima Shretta ◽  
Wirichada Pan-Ngum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Models ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Participatory Approach ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
History Of ◽  
High Degree ◽  
The Mathematical Model

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on multiple levels of society. Not only has the pandemic completely overwhelmed some health systems but it has also changed how scientific evidence is shared and increased the pace at which such evidence is published and consumed, by scientists, policymakers and the wider public. More significantly, the pandemic has created tremendous challenges for decision-makers, who have had to implement highly disruptive containment measures with very little empirical scientific evidence to support their decision-making process. Given this lack of data, predictive mathematical models have played an increasingly prominent role. In high-income countries, there is a long-standing history of established research groups advising policymakers, whereas a general lack of translational capacity has meant that mathematical models frequently remain inaccessible to policymakers in low-income and middle-income countries. Here, we describe a participatory approach to modelling that aims to circumvent this gap. Our approach involved the creation of an international group of infectious disease modellers and other public health experts, which culminated in the establishment of the COVID-19 Modelling (CoMo) Consortium. Here, we describe how the consortium was formed, the way it functions, the mathematical model used and, crucially, the high degree of engagement fostered between CoMo Consortium members and their respective local policymakers and ministries of health.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document