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P Whitehorne-Smith

Perceived Susceptibility to Mental Disorders among Marijuana Smokers Attending a Tertiary Institution

Synopsis: 
This was an exploratory qualitative study that investigated the degree to which marijuana smokers at a tertiary institution perceived their susceptibility to mental illness. Risk perception was found to be low, as the drug’s benefits seemingly outweighed its risks.
Journal Sections: 
Original Articles
Journal Authors: 
N Albarus
P Whitehorne-Smith
W Abel
e-Published: 19 Dec, 2017

Disclaimer

Manuscripts that are Published Ahead of Print have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication by the Editorial Board of the West Indian Medical Journal. They may appear in their original format and may not be copy edited or formatted in the style guide of this Journal. While accepted manuscripts are not yet assigned a volume, issue or page numbers, they can be cited using the DOI and date of e-publication. See our Instructions for Authors on how to properly cite manuscripts at this stage. The contents of the manuscript may change before it is published in its final form. Manuscripts in this section will be removed once they have been issued to a volume and issue, but will still retain the DOI and date of e-publication.

Family Structure, Parental Monitoring and Marijuana Use among Adolescents in Jamaica: Findings from Nationally Representative Data

Issue: 
Vol 66, Issue 5: 2017 (Special Issue on Cannabis)
DOI: 
10.7727/wimj.2017.212
Pages: 
536-45
Synopsis: 
This study analysed the role of the family as a determinant of marijuana use among the Jamaican secondary school population. Results demonstrated that parental involvement carried more weight in influencing marijuana use than family structure and gender which showed no significant difference.

ABSTRACT

Objective: Marijuana misuse by adolescents is a social and public mental health problem in Jamaica and globally. Research has suggested that family structure is one of the factors that influences adolescents’ consumption of marijuana. This study was undertaken to determine if family structure and parental monitoring had any association with marijuana use among adolescents in Jamaica.

Received: 
06 Oct, 2017
Accepted: 
23 Oct, 2017
Published: 
29 Dec, 2017
PDF Attachment: 
PDF icon wimj-iss5-2017_536_545.pdf
Journal Sections: 
Original Articles
Keywords: 
Adolescents
family structure
Jamaica
marijuana use
parental monitoring
youth
Journal Authors: 
DC Oshi
WD Abel
T Ricketts-Roomes
CF Agu
SN Oshi
J Harrison
K Smith
U Atkinson
P Clarke
P Whitehorne-Smith
KN Ukwaja
e-Published: 30 Nov, 2017

Cannabis Use among Secondary School Students in Jamaica: Factors Associated with Age of Initiation

Issue: 
Vol 66, Issue 5: 2017 (Special Issue on Cannabis)
DOI: 
10.7727/wimj.2017.214
Pages: 
546-52
Synopsis: 
The aim of the study was to determine whether perception of risk and accessibility of cannabis predicted the age of initiation of cannabis among secondary school students in Jamaica. Whereas there was a significant inverse association between grade level in school and age of initiation, perceptions of access did not predict the age of initiation of cannabis.

ABSTRACT

Received: 
06 Oct, 2017
Accepted: 
23 Oct, 2017
Published: 
29 Dec, 2017
PDF Attachment: 
PDF icon wimj-iss5-2017_546_552.pdf
Journal Sections: 
Original Articles
Keywords: 
Accessibility to cannabis
Age of initiation
Cannabis
cannabis use
Jamaica
risk perception
Journal Authors: 
T Bernard
WD Abel
P Whitehorne-Smith
G Mitchell
E Thompson
K Lalwani
C Sewell
DC Oshi
e-Published: 26 Oct, 2017

Associations between Cannabis Use and Multiple Substance Use among High School Students in Jamaica

Issue: 
Vol 66, Issue 5: 2017 (Special Issue on Cannabis)
DOI: 
10.7727/wimj.2017.213
Pages: 
529-35
Synopsis: 
Based on the data analysed from the National Secondary School Survey 2013, Jamaica, lifetime cannabis use was significantly associated with multiple substance use and was shown to be a risk factor for lifetime use of cigarettes and alcohol. However, adolescents who reported recent (past-month) use of cannabis were less likely to report recent use of alcohol and cigarettes.

ABSTRACT

Objective: Cigarettes, alcohol, cannabis, inhalants and cocaine are the most commonly used substances among high school students in Jamaica. However, there is limited evidence on their co-use and whether the use of one drug predicts the use of the others (multiple substance use). This study aimed to determine whether cannabis use predicts the co-use of the other substances.

Received: 
06 Oct, 2017
Accepted: 
23 Oct, 2017
Published: 
29 Dec, 2017
PDF Attachment: 
PDF icon wimj-iss5-2017_529_535.pdf
Journal Sections: 
Original Articles
Keywords: 
Associations
cannabis use
Drug Use
high school students
Journal Authors: 
DC Oshi
WD Abel
T Ricketts-Roomes
CF Agu
SN Oshi
J Harrison
K Smith
U Atkinson
P Clarke
A Bailey
P Whitehorne-Smith
e-Published: 26 Oct, 2017

Does Ganja Cause Mental Illness? Perspectives from a Population-based Assessment of Mental Health Literacy in Jamaica

Issue: 
Vol 66, Issue 5: 2017 (Special Issue on Cannabis)
DOI: 
10.7727/wimj.2017.209
Pages: 
553-61
Synopsis: 
This study investigated and evaluated the mental health comprehension of a randomly selected population in Jamaica. General perceptions were significantly correlated with level of education and age, while perceptions about treatment and prevention significantly correlated with gender and education.

ABSTRACT

Objective: Mental illness is a major cause of morbidity and, globally, has a high lifetime risk. Mental health literacy is known to improve symptom recognition, care-seeking and treatment outcomes. This study therefore sought to assess the knowledge and beliefs of Jamaicans regarding the definition, aetiology, symptomatology, treatment and prevention of mental illness.

Received: 
05 Oct, 2017
Accepted: 
23 Oct, 2017
Published: 
29 Dec, 2017
PDF Attachment: 
PDF icon wimj-iss5-2017_553_561.pdf
Journal Sections: 
Original Articles
Keywords: 
mental health
mental health disorder
mental health literacy
mental illness
Journal Authors: 
WD Abel
S Longman-Mills
J Martin
DC Oshi
P Whitehorne-Smith
e-Published: 26 Oct, 2017

Perceived Susceptibility to Mental Disorders among Marijuana Smokers Attending a Tertiary Institution

Issue: 
Vol 66, Issue 5: 2017 (Special Issue on Cannabis)
DOI: 
10.7727/wimj.2017.193
Pages: 
562-8
Synopsis: 
This was an exploratory qualitative study that investigated the degree to which marijuana smokers at a tertiary institution perceived their susceptibility to mental illness. Risk perception was found to be low, as the drug’s benefits seemingly outweighed its risks.

ABSTRACT

Objective: This exploratory qualitative study sought to investigate the question of ‘how do marijuana smokers at a tertiary institution perceive their susceptibility to mental illness?’.

Received: 
18 Sep, 2017
Accepted: 
23 Oct, 2017
Published: 
29 Dec, 2017
PDF Attachment: 
PDF icon wimj-iss5-2017_562_568.pdf
Journal Sections: 
Original Articles
Keywords: 
Marijuana smokers
mental disorders
perceived susceptibility
Journal Authors: 
N Albarus
P Whitehorne-Smith
WD Abel
e-Published: 26 Oct, 2017

Sociodemographic Characteristics and Lifetime Drug Use of the Jamaican Adult Prison Population

DOI: 
10.7727/wimj.2016.228
Synopsis: 
Of the 647 inmates who participated in this study, majority reported lifetime use of alcohol (78% convicted, 80% remanded) and marijuana (75% convicted, 78% remanded) with an initiation age of 15 years in both cases. Drug use was found to be associated with stealing, robbery and recidivism.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore the socio-demographic profile of the Jamaican prison population.

Received: 
19 May, 2016
Accepted: 
30 Jun, 2016
PDF Attachment: 
PDF icon mitchell20et20al-lifetime20drug20use20in20adult20prison20population20in20jamaica1.pdf
Journal Sections: 
Original Articles
Keywords: 
Jamaica
Drug Use
prison
Journal Authors: 
G Mitchell
W Abel
P Clarke
U Atkinson
P Whitehorne-Smith
e-Published: 21 Jul, 2016

Disclaimer

Manuscripts that are Published Ahead of Print have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication by the Editorial Board of the West Indian Medical Journal. They may appear in their original format and may not be copy edited or formatted in the style guide of this Journal. While accepted manuscripts are not yet assigned a volume, issue or page numbers, they can be cited using the DOI and date of e-publication. See our Instructions for Authors on how to properly cite manuscripts at this stage. The contents of the manuscript may change before it is published in its final form. Manuscripts in this section will be removed once they have been issued to a volume and issue, but will still retain the DOI and date of e-publication.

Mental Health Policy and Service System Development in the English-speaking Caribbean

Issue: 
Vol 61, Issue 5 (2012) - Special Issue on Mental Health
Pages: 
475–82
Synopsis: 
There has been some progress in the integration of mental health policy and practice in the English-speaking Caribbean countries, however, much effort is needed to reform mental health legislation and incorporate mental health practices in primary care throughout the English-speaking Caribbean.

ABSTRACT

PDF Attachment: 
PDF icon dr_wd_abel_1.qxd_.pdf
Journal Sections: 
Original Articles
Keywords: 
Caribbean
mental health
mental health policy
Journal Authors: 
WD Abel
D Kestel
D Eldemire-Shearer
C Sewell
P Whitehorne-Smith
e-Published: 24 Oct, 2013
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West Indian Medical Journal

Faculty of Medical Sciences,
The University of the West Indies,
Mona, Kingston 7
Tel: (876) 927-1214
Fax: (876) 927-1846
wimj@uwimona.edu.jm
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