The relationship between cannabis use and other substance use in the general population

This study examined if (1) there is an association in the general populatio n between cannabis use, DSM-IV abuse and dependence, and other substance us e and DSM-IV substance abuse/dependence; (2) if so, is it explained by demo graphic characteristics or levels of neuroticism? It used data from the Aus tralian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being (NSMHWB), a stratif ied, multistage probability sample of 10641 adults, representative of the g eneral population. DSM-IV diagnoses of substance abuse and dependence were derived using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Ther e was a strong bivariate association between involvement with cannabis use in the past 12 months and other substance use, abuse and dependence. In par ticular, cannabis abuse and dependence were highly associated with increase d risks of other substance dependence. These associations remained after in cluding other variables in multiple regression. Cannabis use without disord er was strongly related to other drug use, an association that was not expl ained by other variables considered here. The high likelihood of other subs tance use and substance use disorders needs to be considered among persons seeking treatment for cannabis use problems. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Irel and Ltd. All rights :reserved.