A study of young cannabis users identified three pain groups, with the highest-pain group more likely to use cannabis medically, consume edibles, and use it for sleep.
Young adults using cannabis for pain, clinicians working with young cannabis users, researchers studying pain and substance use patterns
27.3% of young cannabis users had multiple pain conditions
What the researchers found
Three pain classes emerged: Low pain (56.3%), Multiple pain (27.3%), and Nonspecific pain (16.4%). The Multiple pain group had higher rates of psychological distress, medical cannabis use, edible consumption, and using cannabis for sleep compared to other groups.
Why it matters
Not all young cannabis users are alike. Those with multiple pain conditions use cannabis differently and may benefit from targeted clinical approaches rather than one-size-fits-all messaging.
The numbers in context
56.3% Low pain class; 27.3% Multiple pain; 16.4% Nonspecific pain; insomnia associated with both higher-pain classes; Hispanic/Latino participants more likely in Multiple pain class
How the study worked
Latent class analysis of past-30-day cannabis users aged 18-26 enrolled in Los Angeles in 2014-2015, examining pain histories, cannabis use patterns, and mental health characteristics.
What this study cannot tell us
Cross-sectional design prevents causal conclusions, self-reported pain and cannabis use, Los Angeles sample may not generalize nationally, data from 2014-2015 predates many state legalization changes.
How to read the evidence
Cross-sectional study with self-reported measures from a single metropolitan area
When this study was published
Published in 2021 using 2014-2015 data from Los Angeles, before many cannabis legalization changes.
The bigger picture
These findings challenge the assumption that young adults primarily use cannabis recreationally. Over 40% of participants fell into higher-pain groups, suggesting medically motivated use is more common than often assumed in this age group.
Questions still open
- Do these pain profiles remain stable over time? Would tailored cannabis education for high-pain users improve outcomes? How do these profiles differ in states with legal medical cannabis access?
Common questions
Do young cannabis users have different pain profiles?
Are young adults using cannabis for medical reasons?
Read the original research
Pain Profiles among Young Adult Cannabis Users: An Analysis of Antecedent Factors and Distal Outcomes.
Substance use & misuse, 56(8), 1144-1154
Citation
Ataiants, Janna; Fedorova, Ekaterina V; Wong, Carolyn F; Iverson, Ellen; Gold, Jeffrey I; Lankenau, Stephen E. (2021). Pain Profiles among Young Adult Cannabis Users: An Analysis of Antecedent Factors and Distal Outcomes.. Substance use & misuse, 56(8), 1144-1154. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2021.1910707
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