A Six-Year Follow-up of People Who Use Cannabis in Iran – A Case Series

Abstract

Background: Frequent cannabis use is associated with adverse health-related outcomes. This study followed up individuals who used cannabis to assess their use and adverse event status. Methods: The eligible individuals, recruited in the Iranian Mental Health Survey (IranMHS), were contacted via telephone calls six years after the index interview. The frequency of cannabis use and the occurrence of selected adverse events were recorded. The baseline status was extracted from the index survey. If any individual was inaccessible, his/her vital status was assessed. Findings: Of the 50 eligible individuals (all male), two had died. Moreover, from among 25 reached participants, 19 reported abstinence from cannabis in the past year, and 18 reported at least one adverse event in the past six years. Violence and imprisonment were the most common events reported. Conclusion: Six years after the index interview, most of the participants abstained from cannabis. Besides, adverse events were common, emphasizing the need for further investigations on larger samples of cannabis users.

Trace element levels: How Substance Use Disorder (SUD) contributes to the alteration of urinary essential and toxic element levels

“…Cannabis is increasingly being used for recreational, medicinal, and industrial purposes [ 29 , 30 ]. In recent years there have been reports of increasing trends in cannabis use prevalence in Iran specifically among youths [ 31 , 32 ]. While cannabis has beneficial properties, it can also cause some concerning health risks.…”