[Marijuana for medical purposes--public health perspective]. / Marihuana u medicinske svrhe--javnozdravstveni aspekt.

Studies show significant negative effects of smoking marijuana on physical and mental health as well as social and occupational functioning. At the same time, there are more considerations about its ability to treat a number of diseases. This review summarizes current data in scientific literature that examines the medical effects of marijuana on human health with particular emphasis on its potential in medicine. Marijuana has a range of adverse health effects, particularly relating to young people because of higher risk for psychosis, traffic accidents, and cognitive impairment. Marijuana may be helpful in relieving symptoms of nausea and vomiting, increasing appetite and pain relief for persons with cancer, AIDS and multiple sclerosis. Smoking marijuana can impose significant public health risks. If there is a medical role for using marijuana, it lies in the application of clearly defined medical protocols and chemically defined compounds, not with using the unprocessed cannabis plant.

Lymphohematopoietic malignancies and oil exploitation in Koprivnica-Krizevci County, Croatia.

To determine lymphohematopoietic malignancy incidence rates between populations living near oil-gas fields (two regions) compared with those living in areas free from oil-gas exploitation (one region) in Koprivnica-Krizevci County, Croatia, 803 new cases of lymphohematopoietic malignancies were studied for two time periods: 1971-1980 (prior to oil-gas exploitation) and 1981-2000 (during oil-gas exploitation). The results showed considerable geographic differences in the incidences of chronic myeloid leukemia and multiple myeloma. The authors conclude that proximity to oil or gas fields represents an increased population risk of developing lymphohematopoietic cancers.

[Croatian health survey: cigarette smoking]. / Hrvatska zdravstvena anketa: pusenje.

AIM: The aim of the study was to calculate the prevalence of smoking habit among Croatian population according to sex, age groups and country regions. The aim was also to analyze the use of health services by smokers and nonsmokers. METHODS: Data collected during the 2003 Croatian Health Survey were used in the study. The sample was representative of particular regions. A total of 12,254 individuals aged 18 were interviewed. RESULTS: According to data obtained in the survey, there were 27.4% of daily smokers in the population aged 18. There were great differences between the regions. The prevalence of smoking habit was found to be higher in the east regions of inland Croatia and north Adriatic region than in other regions (29% vs. 32%). The lowest prevalence was recorded in the City of Zagreb (23%). The prevalence of cigarette smoking was higher in men (33.8%) than in women (21.7%). The highest prevalence of cigarette smoking in men was recorded in the Slavonia (east) region and lowest in north region (40.1% vs. 28.5%). In women, the highest prevalence was recorded in north Adriatic region (Istria) and lowest in Zagreb (29.2% vs. 13.9%). The prevalence of daily smokers also differed between counties within the same region. The prevalence of cigarette smoking was higher in the young than in older individuals. In some counties (mostly in the east of Croatia), more than 40% of daily smokers were aged 18-20. The lowest prevalence was in central Croatia. The prevalence of cigarette smoking in young individuals was higher in south Adriatic than in north Adriatic region. According to the level of education, the highest prevalence of smokers was recorded among individuals with with secondary school. Considering the use o health services, smokers were found to have less primary health care visits but more frequent and longer hospitalizations. Nonsmoker more frequently used preventive check-ups for high blood pressure, prostate carcinoma screening and colorectal carcinoma, whereas female smokers more frequently used screening for cervical and breast cancer than female nonsmokers. DISCUSSION: Croatia is an average European country. Now the situation is better than it was in the past. A survey conducted in 1972 showed the prevalence of daily cigarette smoking to be 56.9% in male and 10.1% in female population. Since then, smoking habit has decreased in men and increased in women. CONCLUSION: The differences recorded according to regions, sex and age groups are high. War situation and socioeconomic conditions (war, unemployment, low income) could influence the differences among regions and counties. The data collected can be used as a guidance on planning intervention measures.

[Smoking habits among health staff in the county of Koprivnica-Krizevci--comparative study 1998 and 2002]. / Navika pusenja djelatnika u zdravstvu Koprivnicko krizevacke zupanije--usporedna studija 1998. i 2002.

The study examined smoking habits among health care workers of all health institutions in the County of Koprivnica-Krizevci with the aim of establishing the prevalence. The first research of smoking habits was done in 1998 in order to get basic data about smoking habits, and the second research was carried out in 2002 with the aim of establishing a trend of smoking habits. An anonymous qestionnaire was given to all employees of all health institutions in the County. It was answered by 508 persons (44%) in 1998 and by 622 persons (50%) in 2002. As far as profession is concerned, 49 (53)% of those who answered the questionnaire were doctors, 24 (42)% dentists, 7 (9)% pharmacists, 53 (58)% were professional nurses and 28 (37)% administrative-technical non-health professionals. The data in parentheses are for 2002. The survey showed that of all employees who answered the questionnaire 34% in 1998 were smokers and 31% in 2002, while 17% were ex-smokers (1998 and 2002) and 48% in 1998 and 52% in 2002 have never been smokers. Although the damage of smoking and consequences is a matter of every day talk about, and the employees of health institutions are the first expected to set an example to become aware and informed, the data of this research showed that the decrease of prevalence of smokers among health care workers is very slow.