Cannabis use in persons with traumatic spinal cord injury in Denmark

Sven R Andresen; Fin Biering-Sørensen; Ellen Merete Hagen; Jørgen F Nielsen; Flemming W Bach; Nanna B Finnerup

doi:10.2340/16501977-2105

Cannabis use in persons with traumatic spinal cord injury in Denmark

Sven R Andresen, Fin Biering-Sørensen, Ellen Merete Hagen, Jørgen F Nielsen, Flemming W Bach, Nanna B Finnerup

Department of Clinical Medicine

10 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
Volume	49
Issue number	2
Pages (from-to)	152-160
Number of pages	9
ISSN	1650-1977
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-2105
Publication status	Published - Feb 2017

Keywords

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cannabis/chemistry
Cross-Sectional Studies
Denmark
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pain/drug therapy
Spinal Cord Injuries/drug therapy
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult

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Cite this

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title = "Cannabis use in persons with traumatic spinal cord injury in Denmark",

abstract = "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.",

keywords = "Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cannabis/chemistry, Cross-Sectional Studies, Denmark, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pain/drug therapy, Spinal Cord Injuries/drug therapy, Surveys and Questionnaires, Young Adult",

author = "Andresen, {Sven R} and Fin Biering-S{\o}rensen and Hagen, {Ellen Merete} and Nielsen, {J{\o}rgen F} and Bach, {Flemming W} and Finnerup, {Nanna B}",

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T1 - Cannabis use in persons with traumatic spinal cord injury in Denmark

AU - Andresen, Sven R

AU - Biering-Sørensen, Fin

AU - Hagen, Ellen Merete

AU - Nielsen, Jørgen F

AU - Bach, Flemming W

AU - Finnerup, Nanna B

PY - 2017/2

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N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

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KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Pain/drug therapy

KW - Spinal Cord Injuries/drug therapy

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

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SN - 1650-1977

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JO - Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine

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ER -

Cannabis use in persons with traumatic spinal cord injury in Denmark

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Keywords

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