Abstract
ObjectivesCannabis is a widely used illicit substance that has been associated with acute injuries. This study seeks to provide near real-time injury estimates related to cannabis and other substance use from the electronic Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (eCHIRPP) database.MethodsData from the eCHIRPP database, years 2011 to 2016, were analyzed via data mining, descriptive, logistic regression, and sensitivity analyses. Drug use trends over time for cannabis and/or other substances (alcohol, illicit drugs, and medications) were assessed. Descriptive statistics (intent, external cause, and nature of injury) and proportionate injury ratios (PIR) associated with cannabis use are presented.ResultsCannabis use was observed in 184 cases/100,000 eCHIRPP cases, and related injuries were mostly identified as unintentional (66.8%). Poisoning (68.5%) and intoxication (69.4%) were the external cause and nature of injury most associated with these events, and hospitalization was recorded for 14.3% of cases. Per 100,000 eCHIRPP cases, cannabis was used alone in 72.4 cases, and in combination with alcohol, illicit drugs, or medications in 74.6 cases, 11.3 cases, and 7.9 cases, respectively. Relative to non-use, the PIR of hospitalization was not significant for cannabis-only users of either sex (males: PIR 1.0, 95% CI 0.6–1.7, females: PIR 0.9, 95% CI: 0.5–1.7).ConclusionCannabis use injuries are rare, but can occur when cannabis is used with or without other substances. As Canada considers legislative changes, our finding of cases related to unintentional injury, poisoning, and intoxication suggests areas that might benefit from health literacy efforts.
Highlights
IntroductionCannabis (marijuana) is the most commonly used illicit drug worldwide (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2016)
Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug worldwide (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2016)
Even though studies have been inconsistent in suggesting a causal relationship between cannabis consumption and injury (Vitale and van de Mheen 2006; Elvik 2013; Mura et al 2003), associations have been reported with motor vehicle crashes (MVC) (Fischer et al 2016; Ramaekers et al 2004), interpersonal violence (Copeland et al 2013), neighbourhood crime, self-harm (Silins et al 2014), and the use of other illicit drugs (Kaar et al 2015)
Summary
Cannabis (marijuana) is the most commonly used illicit drug worldwide (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2016). Among children in grades 7 to 12, cannabis had the highest prevalence of use after alcohol with nearly 17% reporting use in the year preceding the survey (Health Canada 2014). Even though studies have been inconsistent in suggesting a causal relationship between cannabis consumption and injury (Vitale and van de Mheen 2006; Elvik 2013; Mura et al 2003), associations have been reported with motor vehicle crashes (MVC) (Fischer et al 2016; Ramaekers et al 2004), interpersonal violence (Copeland et al 2013), neighbourhood crime (de Looze et al 2015), self-harm (Silins et al 2014), and the use of other illicit drugs (Kaar et al 2015)
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