Predictors of changes in marijuana consumption in Germany during the covid-19 pandemic.

During the Covid-19 pandemic Germany experienced its first increase in the proportion of heavy cannabis users since 1995. With the expected nationwide decriminalization of cannabis before 2025, we investigate the potential causes for that increase. Data were from the 2021 European Web Survey on Drugs (EWSD) including 762 12-month marijuana users from Germany (72.9% male, mean age = 29.5 years). Both heavy and regular cannabis consumers reported an increase in marijuana consumption during the pandemic, with infrequent users reporting a decrease. Using multinomial logistic regression, we found younger individuals (OR = 0.95 [95% CI = 0.92, 0.98]) and those not pursuing or completing higher education (OR = 1.86 [1.23, 2.81]) had increased use. Additionally, using cannabis to self-medicate (OR = 2.79 [1.56, 4.99]) and purchasing marijuana (OR = 2.26 [1.35, 3.77]) was associated with increased use. We found, relative to infrequent users, both regular (OR = 4.00 [2.39, 6.72]) and notably heavy users (OR = 31.17 [12.10, 80.32]) were more likely to use cannabis to self-medicate. Both regular (OR = 4.09 [2.47, 6.77]) and especially heavy users (OR = 13.53 [6.74, 27.16]) were also more likely to purchase marijuana. Heavy users were also more likely to be past 30-day tobacco users (OR = 5.92 [2.81, 12.45]). We identified the self-reported motivation of using cannabis to self-medicate as well as act of purchasing marijuana as having the strongest relation to being a heavy user and increasing marijuana use during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prevalence of Self-medication Practices for Oral Health Problems among Dental Patients in a dental college: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Self-medication means the use of medications for the treatment of any disease on their own, without consulting any healthcare professional. At times self-medication can be useful if practiced correctly by saving time and money, whereas disadvantages often occur due to lack of evaluation by trained medical professionals and delay ineffective treatment and can result in unnecessary expenses and drug dependence. This study was conducted to find out the self-medication behavior and its associated factors among patients visiting a dental hospital in Kathmandu. METHODS: A hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted on 265 patients in Kantipur Dental College from December 2019 to January 2020 among the patients attending the dental Out Patient Department. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee of Kantipur Dental College. A convenience sampling technique was used. Proformas were prepared in English, translated to Nepali and re-translated to English by the back-translation method. Data entry was done in Microsoft Excel and analysis in SPSS 20. Descriptive statistics was done. RESULTS: The prevalence of self-medication practice was found to be 166 (62.6%). Out of total participants, 99 (59.6%) consumed medicines for few days only and the most common triggering factor was found to be toothache in 101 (60.8%) participants. The most common reason for selfmedication was found to be a previous experience of treating similar illnesses. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of self-medication was found to be low as compared to the study done in similar settings. Self-medication practice is a sensitive issue that hasn't been given the required consideration.

Información sobre medicamentos y automedicación en las redes sociales / Information on drugs and self-medication in social networks

Las redes sociales emergen como una de las principales fuentes de información mediante el uso de Internet. Objetivo: valorar la información sanitaria que se utiliza en las redes sociales en relación con los medicamentos y la automedicación. Métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional en Facebook y Twitter durante tres meses para explorar y analizar los comentarios realizados sobre información sanitaria según tres descriptores: salud, enfermedad y medicamentos. Se analizaron 334 comentarios en Facebook y en Twitter, elegidos aleatoriamente de 1 002 extraídos. Resultados: la información sobre medicamentos representa el 20,8 % en Facebook y el 24,15 % en Twitter. Sobre la automedicación supone el 6,9 % y el 8,5 % respectivamente. Los medicamentos más comentados corresponden al sistema nervioso (Grupo N) con 76 (22,7 %) en Facebook y 78 (23,3 %) en Twiter, el grupo más prevalente en ambas redes. Se destacan los mismos subgrupos terapéuticos: N02 (analgésicos), donde es superior Facebook, N06 (psicoanalépticos) y N05 (Psicolépticos). En relación con los medicamentos utilizados en automedicación predomina el grupo N (sistema nervioso) en ambas, pero superior en Facebook. Los grupos que le siguen y que se destacan en todos los casos sobre Twiter son: grupo R (sistema respiratorio), A (sistema digestivo) y M (sistema músculo-esquelético). Los grupos M y R con igual número ocupan el segundo lugar en Twiter. Conclusión: los usuarios de Facebook y Twitter comparten más información sobre medicamentos que sobre automedicación. Las redes sociales, por el momento, se usan prioritariamente para compartir experiencias, resolver dudas y recibir información sobre problemas de salud.

Social networks are one of the main sources of information on the Internet. Objective: evaluate the health information provided by social networks concerning drugs and self-medication. Methods: an observational study was conducted in Facebook and Twitter for three months based on the search terms health, disease and drugs, with the purpose of exploring and analyzing comments on health information. 334 comments were analyzed, randomly selected from the total 1 002 collected. Results: Information on drugs was 20,8 % in Facebook and 24,15 % in Twitter. Information on self-medication was 6,9 % in Facebook and 8,5 % in Twitter. The drugs most commonly commented on were those for the nervous system (Group N) with 76 (22,7 %) comments in Facebook and 78 (23,3 %) in Twitter. This was the prevailing group in both networks. The same therapeutic subgroups stand out in the two networks: N02 (analgesics), higher in Facebook, N06 (psychoanaleptics) and N05 (psycholeptics). As to the drugs used for self-medication, there is a predominance of Group N (nervous system) in both networks, but the prevalence is higher in Facebook. The groups following, all of which stand out in Twitter, are Group R (respiratory system), A (digestive system) and M (musculoskeletal system). Groups M and R rank second in Twitter with the same number of hits. Conclusions: Users of Facebook and Twitter share more information about drugs than about self-medication. Social networks are mostly used to exchange experiences, make inquiries and obtain information about health problems.