Cannabis Use And Oral Health Among First Nations In Canada

Canada legalized recreational cannabis in 2018 raising concerns among Indigenous peoples about the impact of cannabis on their oral health. We examined the association between cannabis and self-rated oral health in a national sample of First Nations (FN) youth and adults. Weighted samples representing 45,030 FN youth (12-17 years) and 269,186 FN adults (18 years+) were derived from the 2015-2016 FN Regional Health Survey approved by FN Information Governance Centre and University of Toronto Research Ethics Board. Logistic Regression evaluated fair/poor self-rated oral health. Independent variables included: cannabis use in the past year, socio-demographic characteristics, dental care access, self-reported oral conditions and perceived treatment needs, smoking, alcohol and drug use, diabetes, sugary foods. 27.2% FN youth and 30.3% FN adults reported cannabis use. Among adults, cannabis use was statistically significantly associated with self-rated fair/poor oral health, but when adjusting for other independent variables, only medical cannabis use versus no cannabis use was statistically significant (Adjusted odds ratio=1.37; 95% CI=1.08, 1.74; P<0.05). Among youth, non-medical cannabis use was statistically highly significant with an adjusted odds ratio for fair/poor oral health of 1.73 (95% CI=1.27, 2.35, P=0.001). Statistically significant associations between cannabis use and poor oral health were found in a national FN health survey, forming a baseline to measure trends in cannabis use and its impact on oral health among First Nations peoples.