Medical Marijuana Laws and Suicides by Gender and Age

Datos Bibliográficos

ID11029031
AutoresD Mark Anderson (0000-0003-2433-6206, D. Mark Anderson is with the Department of Agricultural Economics and Department of Economics, Montana State University, Bozeman. Daniel I. Rees is with the Department of Economics, University of Colorado Denver. Joseph J. Sabia is with the Department of Economics, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.), Daniel I Rees (0000-0002-9166-6013, D. Mark Anderson is with the Department of Agricultural Economics and Department of Economics, Montana State University, Bozeman. Daniel I. Rees is with the Department of Economics, University of Colorado Denver. Joseph J. Sabia is with the Department of Economics, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.), Joseph J Sabia (0000-0001-9319-5211, D. Mark Anderson is with the Department of Agricultural Economics and Department of Economics, Montana State University, Bozeman. Daniel I. Rees is with the Department of Economics, University of Colorado Denver. Joseph J. Sabia is with the Department of Economics, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.)
Año2014
Volumen104
Número12
Páginas2369-2376
Fecha de publicación2014-12-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
EditorialAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.2013.301612
PMID24432945
OpenAlexW2101705297
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas18
Referencias citadas64

Objectives. We estimated the association between legalizing medical marijuana and suicides. Methods. We obtained state-level suicide data from the National Vital Statistics System’s Mortality Detail Files for 1990–2007. We used regression analysis to examine the association between medical marijuana legalization and suicides per 100 000 population. Results. After adjustment for economic conditions, state policies, and state-specific linear time trends, the association between legalizing medical marijuana and suicides was not statistically significant at the .05 level. However, legalization was associated with a 10.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] = −17.1%, −3.7%) and 9.4% (95% CI = −16.1%, −2.4%) reduction in the suicide rate of men aged 20 through 29 years and 30 through 39 years, respectively. Estimates for females were less precise and sensitive to model specification. Conclusions. Suicides among men aged 20 through 39 years fell after medical marijuana legalization compared with those in states that did not legalize. The negative relationship between legalization and suicides among young men is consistent with the hypothesis that marijuana can be used to cope with stressful life events. However, this relationship may be explained by alcohol consumption. The mechanism through which legalizing medical marijuana reduces suicides among young men remains a topic for future study

Criminology · Environmental health · Injury prevention · Medical emergency · Occupational safety and health · Poison control · Political science · Suicide prevention · Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Law · Medicine · Opioid Use Disorder Treatment · Psychology · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes