Immigrants, refugees and cannabis use.

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Immigration patterns show movement from low- to high-income nations.
• High-income regions, such as the EU and US, exhibit elevated cannabis use rates.
• Understanding cannabis use among migrant populations is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review studies on cannabis use among immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
• To examine the association between immigration and cannabis use.
• To identify risk and protective factors for cannabis use in migrant populations.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review.
• Synthesis of available studies on cannabis use in immigrant, refugee, and asylum seeker cohorts.
• Analysis of factors associated with cannabis consumption in these populations.

Main Results:

• Cannabis use rates are generally lower among immigrants compared to native populations.
• Refugees, males, single individuals, non-religious persons, those with lower education, urban dwellers, and individuals with substance-using peers face higher risks.
• Cannabis use increases across generations, strongly linked to acculturation, with higher use seen in those with lower cultural congruity and higher assimilation.

Conclusions:

• Cannabis use among immigrants differs from native populations, with generational increases and acculturation playing significant roles.
• Risk factors for cannabis use in immigrants largely mirror those in the general population.
• While seemingly independent of alcohol or illicit drug use, cannabis use may be associated with tobacco smoking in migrant groups.