Robertson J R, Miller P, Anderson R
Alcohol Research Group, Edinburgh University.
Br J Gen Pract. 1996 Nov;46(412):671-4.
The illegal use of cannabis has been increasing in many Western countries for the past two decades. Recently, some interest has been shown in modifying legislation and control. The need for general practitioners to be aware of the short- and long-term consequences of cannabis use is increasing, and more information is required about its effects on behaviour, psychological states and the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. The use of general practice populations to study the prevalence of cannabis use and its damaging effects is less represented in the literature than it should be, considering the extent of cannabis consumption.
A study was carried out in 1995 to determine the prevalence of cannabis use in a general practice population and any associated health problems. As a pilot study, samples of cannabis were obtained for forensic analysis.
Two questionnaires were used. One very short enquiry about the use, if any, of the drug, and a longer one about the effects of its use. Data concerning medical effects were included from patients' case notes. Samples of cannabis were obtained for forensic examination.
A very high proportion (61%) of patients surveyed indicated some cannabis use (past or present). Thirty-seven per cent had used it in the previous 12 months. Users could be broadly divided into transitory experimenters, regular users and heavy users. Medical problems included those attributed to associated tobacco smoking, other illegal drug use and psychological problems. Benefits perceived by patients recording use were many. Polydrug use and legislation issues were difficult to separate from the effects of cannabis itself. Chest infections, anxiety and depression, and drug dependence were common diagnoses, and 13 of the 32 females in the study group had evidence of cervical smear abnormalities.
Few serious damaging effects from cannabis use itself were identified, although chest infections and anxiety problems were common. Tobacco damage, associated drug use and criminal or legal issues dominated and obscured the important perceived benefits and the scientific understanding of the effects and side effects of the drug. More research into several identified areas is required.
在过去二十年里，许多西方国家非法使用大麻的情况一直在增加。最近，人们对修改立法和管控表现出了一些兴趣。全科医生了解大麻使用的短期和长期后果的必要性日益增加，并且需要更多关于其对行为、心理状态以及呼吸和心血管系统影响的信息。考虑到大麻消费的程度，利用全科医疗人群来研究大麻使用的流行情况及其有害影响在文献中的体现比应有的情况要少。
1995年开展了一项研究，以确定全科医疗人群中大麻使用的流行情况以及任何相关的健康问题。作为一项试点研究，获取了大麻样本用于法医分析。
使用了两份问卷。一份是关于是否使用该药物的非常简短的询问，另一份是关于使用该药物影响的较长问卷。从患者病历中获取了有关医学影响的数据。获取了大麻样本用于法医检查。
接受调查的患者中很大一部分（61%）表示有过大麻使用（过去或现在）。37%的人在过去12个月内使用过。使用者大致可分为临时试用者、经常使用者和大量使用者。医学问题包括那些归因于相关吸烟、其他非法药物使用和心理问题的情况。记录使用情况的患者所感知到的益处很多。多药使用和立法问题很难与大麻本身的影响区分开来。胸部感染、焦虑和抑郁以及药物依赖是常见的诊断结果，研究组的32名女性中有13人有宫颈涂片异常的证据。
虽然胸部感染和焦虑问题很常见，但未发现大麻使用本身有严重的有害影响。烟草损害、相关药物使用以及刑事或法律问题占主导地位，掩盖了重要的感知益处以及对该药物的影响和副作用的科学理解。需要对几个已确定的领域进行更多研究。
