|
Abstract: Marijuana Use and Mortality
Stephen Sidney, MD, Jerome E. Beck, DrPH, Irene S. Tekawa, MA, Charles P.
Quesenberry, Jr, PhD, and Gary D. Friedman, MD
American Journal of Public Health, April '97
comments@msmail.apha.org, fax: 202-789-5661
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of
marijuana use to mortality.
Methods. The study population comprised 65 171 Kaiser Permanente Medical
Care Program enrollees, aged 15 through 49 years, who completed
questionnaires about smoking habits, including marijuana use, between 1979
and 1985. Mortality follow-up was conducted
through 1991.
Results: Compared with nonuse or experimentation (lifetime use six or fewer
times), current marijuana use was not associated with a significantly
increased risk of non-AIDS mortality in men or of total mortality in women. Current marijuana use
was associated with increased risk of AIDS mortality in men. This
interpretation was supported by the lack of association of marijuana use
with AIDS mortality in men from a Kaiser Permanente AIDS database.
Conclusions:
Marijuana use in a prepaid health care-based study cohort had
little effect on non-AIDS mortality in men and on total mortality in women.
(Am J Public Health. 1997;87:585-590)
Visit Insight Web Hub
End
|
|