Journal of addictive diseases
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Although marijuana dependence is prevalent, most individuals with marijuana dependence do not seek treatment. There are few data characterizing treatment seeking marijuana-dependent patients compared to patients presenting for treatment of other drugs regarding the severity of illness and motivation for treatment. Forty-two marijuana-dependent individuals were compared to 58 cocaine-dependent individuals seeking treatment. ⋯ Although marijuana-dependent individuals had less outpatient treatment exposure, the difference between the two groups was not significant and motivation for change, based on the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment, was similar for both groups of treatment seekers. However, the Circumstances, Motivation, Readiness for Treatment Scale suggested that cocaine-dependent individuals were more motivated for treatment. Taken together, these data suggest that treatment seeking marijuana-dependent individuals have substantial withdrawal dependence symptomatology although it is less clear if they are as motivated to seek out treatment as cocaine-dependent treatment seekers.
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We have proposed a novel hypothesis regarding the potential role of occupational or second-hand exposure in physician substance use, abuse, and addiction. While only 5.6% of licensed physicians in Florida are anesthesiologists, nearly 25% of physicians followed for substance abuse/dependence are anesthesiologists. When we sort by drug of choice, anesthesiologists have more opioid abuse and dependence than other physicians and appropriate controls. ⋯ Thus environmental exposure and sensitization may be an important risk factor in physician addiction. Second hand exposure may affect treatment outcome and explain anesthesiologist's inability to return to work in the operating room. We are developing an animal model for second hand exposure and additional studies of the operating room and cardiac anesthesiologists are underway.