Therespiratoryeffectsofcannabisdependence inyoungadults.pdfVIP

( ) ( ) – Addiction 2000 95 11 , 1669 1677 RESEARCH REPORT The respiratory effects of cannabis dependence in young adults D. ROBIN TAYLOR, RICHIE POULTON1 TERRIE E. MOFFITT2 PADMAJA RAMANKUTTY1 MALCOLM R. SEARS3 Departments of Medicine and 1Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand, 2Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, UK 3Firestone Chest and Allergy Unit, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Abstract Aim. To evaluate the relationship between cannabis dependence and respiratory symptoms and lung function in young adults, while controlling for the effects of tobacco smoking. Setting and participants. j Nine hundred and forty-three young adults from a birth cohort of 1037 sub ects born in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1972/1973 were studied at age 21. Measurements. Standardized respiratory symptom questionnaires were administered. Spirometry and methacholine challenge tests were undertaken. Cannabis dependence was determined using DSM-III-R criteria. Descriptive analyses and comparisons between j cannabis-dependent, tobacco-smoking and non-smoking groups were undertaken. Ad usted odds ratios for respiratory symptoms, lung function and airway hyper-responsiveness (PC ) were measured. Findings.