Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 29, 2025
07:30
Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
Published on: August 18, 2020
6.7K
Cannabis Use in Physicians: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Pierre-Louis Naillon1, Valentin Flaudias2, Georges Brousse3
1Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LaPSCo, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, WittyFit, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Medicines (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 26, 2023
Summary
Physician cannabis use is prevalent, with over a third of medical doctors (MDs) and students reporting lifetime use. Medical students show higher usage rates, and a rebound in use since 2005 highlights the need for early intervention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Physician cannabis consumption poses risks to both healthcare providers and patient care.
- Understanding the prevalence of cannabis use among medical doctors (MDs) and students is crucial for addressing potential impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the prevalence of cannabis use among MDs and students.
- To identify factors influencing cannabis use patterns, including specialty, education level, continent, and time period.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on cannabis use in MDs/students.
- Searched major databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, PsycInfo, ScienceDirect).
- Stratified analyses by frequency of use (lifetime, past year, past month, daily) and compared using meta-regressions.
Main Results:
- Included 54 studies with 42,936 participants (MDs, medical students, residents).
- Overall lifetime prevalence of cannabis use was 37%, with 1.1 per thousand (‱) reporting daily use.
- Medical students exhibited higher lifetime (38% vs. 35%), past year (24% vs. 5%), and past month (10% vs. 2%) use compared to MDs.
Conclusions:
- Over one-third of MDs/students have used cannabis, with daily use being low but present.
- Medical students represent the largest group of cannabis users.
- Cannabis use shows a U-shaped trend over time, with a notable rebound since 2005, emphasizing the need for early public health interventions in medical education.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Cannabinoids
329
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a phytocannabinoid that primarily interacts with the CB1 receptor, a type of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) predominantly in and around the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) and emetic center. THC also blocks the serotonin receptor activity in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) by inhibiting serotonin release. THC exerts its anti-emetic effects through these interactions, which are beneficial for patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Two synthetic agonists of THC,...
Two synthetic agonists of THC,...
329
01:24CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids
291
CNS stimulants, such as cocaine, amphetamines, and cannabinoids, have varying structures and mechanisms of action that lead to different therapeutic effects and side effects. Cocaine, with its molecular formula C17H21NO4, is a tropane alkaloid and a tertiary amino compound. It has two chemical forms: the hydrochloride salt and the "freebase." The former is in powder form, while the latter involves removing the hydrochloride salt to create a form that can be smoked. Cocaine exerts its...
291
01:15Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
578
Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not...
578
01:25Analgesia and Pain Management
676
Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
676
01:27Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism
4.1K
Synergism is a useful mechanism where combining two or more drugs is more effective than each constituent used alone. Such combinations are also called supra-additive interactions. The drugs collectively enhance the final therapeutic effect by acting on different targets. Another advantage is that the low dose of each constituent drug is sufficient to achieve the desired effect. This helps reduce the duration of therapy and lower the adverse effects of these drugs.
Such synergistic combinations...
Such synergistic combinations...
4.1K
01:21Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview
2.0K
When it comes to infants and young children, they are typically administered smaller doses of medication in comparison to adults. This is primarily because their organ functions still need to fully develop, meaning their bodies are not as efficient at metabolizing or eliminating drugs. Additionally, their blood-brain barrier is more permeable than in adults. As a result, high concentrations of drugs can easily penetrate the central nervous system (CNS), potentially leading to neurological...
2.0K