Article

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate recreational and medical cannabis use in individuals with
traumatic spinal cord injury, including reasons and predictors for use, perceived
benefits and negative consequences. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey in Denmark.
METHODS: A 35-item questionnaire was sent to 1,101 patients with spinal cord
injury who had been in contact with a rehabilitation centre between 1990 and 2012. RESULTS: A total of 537 participants completed the questionnaire. Of these,
36% had tried cannabis at least once and 9% were current users. Of current users,
79% had started to use cannabis before their spinal cord injury. The main reason
for use was pleasure, but 65% used cannabis partly for spinal cord injury-related
consequences and 59% reported at least good effect on pain and spasticity.
Negative consequences of use were primarily inertia and feeling quiet/subdued.
Lower age, living in rural areas/larger cities, tobacco-smoking, high alcohol
intake and higher muscle stiffness were significantly associated with cannabis
use. Those who had never tried cannabis reported that they would mainly use
cannabis to alleviate pain and spasticity if it were legalized. CONCLUSION:
Cannabis use is more frequent among individuals with spinal cord injury in
Denmark than among the general population. High muscle stiffness and various
demographic characteristics (lower age, living in rural areas/larger cities,
tobacco-smoking and high alcohol intake) were associated with cannabis use. Most
participants had started using cannabis before their spinal cord injury. There
was considerable overlap between recreational and disability-related use.

Langue : ANGLAIS