Public Health Effects of Medical Marijuana Legalization in Colorado.

INTRODUCTION: The public health consequences of the legalization of marijuana, whether for medical or recreational purposes, are little understood. Despite this, numerous states are considering medical or recreational legalization. In the context of abrupt changes in marijuana policy in 2009 in Colorado, the authors sought to investigate corresponding changes in marijuana-related public health indicators. METHODS: This observational, ecologic study used an interrupted time-series analysis to identify changes in public health indicators potentially related to broad policy changes that occurred in 2009. This was records-based research from the state of Colorado and Denver metropolitan area. Data were collected to examine frequency and trends of marijuana-related outcomes in hospital discharges and poison center calls between time periods before and after 2009 and adjusted for population. Analyses were conducted in 2014. RESULTS: Hospital discharges coded as marijuana-dependent increased 1% per month (95% CI=0.8, 1.1, p<0.001) from 2007 to 2013. A change in trend was detected in poison center calls mentioning marijuana (p<0.01). After 2009, poison center calls increased 0.8% per month (95% CI=0.2, 1.4, p<0.01). Poison center calls also increased 56% (95% CI=49%, 63%, p<0.001) in the period following the policy change. Further, there was one hospital discharge coded as dependent for every 3,159 (95% CI=2465, 3853, p<0.001) medical marijuana registrant applications. CONCLUSIONS: The abrupt nature of these changes suggests public health effects related to broad policy changes associated with marijuana. This report may be used to assist in policy decisions regarding the short-term public health effects of marijuana legalization.

Get Yourself Tested 2011-2012: findings and prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae at an urban public health system.

During April 2011 and April 2012 the Get Yourself Tested campaign was launched throughout the Cook County Health and Hospitals System to promote testing of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) among 15-25-year-olds in a high-prevalence urban community. Retrospective data were collected and analysed. Demographic differences by CT and GC positivity were evaluated along with factors associated with CT and GC status. A total of 2853 tests were conducted among individuals aged 15-25 years. A total of 2060 (72%) females and 793 (28%) males were tested. Of those tested, 488 (17%) individuals tested positive for either CT or GC or both; 400 (14%) were positive for CT, 139 (5%) were positive for GC. The prevalence for GC was 8.8% (n = 70) in males compared to 3.3% (n = 69) in females (p < 0.001) and the prevalence of CT was 16% (n = 127) for males compared to 13.3% (n = 273) for females (p = 0.057). Women in a high-risk population are more likely to get tested for sexually transmitted infections; however, men are more likely to test positive for CT and GC. Get Yourself Tested is an important campaign to encourage wider spread testing among populations at risk in Cook County.