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The burden of disease attributable to cannabis use in Canada in 2012
Author(s) -
Imtiaz Sameer,
Shield Kevin D.,
Roerecke Michael,
Cheng Joyce,
Popova Svetlana,
Kurdyak Paul,
Fischer Benedikt,
Rehm Jürgen
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0965-2140
DOI - 10.1111/add.13237
Subject(s) - cannabis , medicine , years of potential life lost , attributable risk , disease burden , burden of disease , epidemiology , environmental health , demography , gerontology , psychiatry , life expectancy , population , sociology
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 = 4760, 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, caused mainly 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.