Evaluation of cannabis addiction in psychiatric department in university hospital of toamasina madagascar

Our study highlights the alarming rate of cannabis misuse prevalence (23%) in the department of Psychiatry in Toamasina Hospital during the first half of 2017. Men between 20 and 30 years old are the most consumers (32%), followed by those between the ages of 30 and 40 (31.82%). There is the presence of women consuming (4.55%). The criteria for cannabis addiction by the DSM-5 of American Psychiatrist Association was used. Thus, most cannabis users in our study (40.90%) develop medium dependence with score between 5 and 6. However, 27.30% are dependent with a score higher than 6. Even our numbers remain less important compared to the literature, it is important to raise awareness of population to prevent its consumption. Furthermore, the sources of income of cannabis users of our research come especially from their families or friends in 40.90%. 31.82% of our patients are in joblessness and 9.09% depended on social assistance. Thus, the fight against idleness and the encouragement of young people to not to stay in joblessness would constitute strategies to keep them away from this drug use. Finally, for the treatment of cannabis addiction, we should also take care off, at the same time, the underlying depression (31.80% in our case) and psychiatric comorbidities as alcoholism (13.63% in our case), schizophrenia (9.09%) and borderline and psychopathic personality disorders which would constitute cannabis use perseverance factors.