Older veterans use medical cannabis as a substitute for opioids and benzodiazepines with little guidance
Older US veterans reported using medical cannabis as a harm reduction strategy to replace opioids and benzodiazepines, but inconsistent VA policies and limited physician engagement left them navigating use largely on their own.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Semi-structured interviews with 32 older veterans revealed they used medical cannabis as an adjunct or substitute for opioids and benzodiazepines for physical and mental health conditions. Veterans reported inconsistent application of cannabis policies across the Veterans Health Administration system, and limited guidance from healthcare providers despite wanting clinical support.
Key Numbers
32 veterans interviewed; selected via maximum variation sampling from survey respondents
How They Did This
Qualitative study using maximum variation sampling to select 32 veterans from a larger survey sample for semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis applied to identify patterns in cannabis use motivations, experiences, and policy concerns.
Why This Research Matters
Veterans have disproportionately high rates of chronic pain and PTSD, conditions traditionally treated with opioids and benzodiazepines. Understanding how they self-manage with cannabis could inform VA policy and clinical practice.
The Bigger Picture
The disconnect between growing veteran cannabis use and the VA system that cannot prescribe or formally support it creates a situation where some of the highest-need patients are making medication decisions without clinical guidance.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Qualitative design with 32 participants limits generalizability. Self-selected participants may overrepresent positive cannabis experiences. Findings specific to the US veteran population and VA system.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would formal VA integration of medical cannabis reduce opioid and benzodiazepine prescribing?
- ?How do veteran cannabis use outcomes compare to continued pharmaceutical treatment?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 32 older veterans using cannabis as harm reduction with limited clinical guidance
- Evidence Grade:
- Qualitative interview study with purposive sampling; provides rich contextual data but small sample and self-selection limit generalizability.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023
- Original Title:
- Prevention, Practice, and Policy: Older US Veterans' Perspectives on Cannabis Use.
- Published In:
- Drugs & aging, 40(1), 59-70 (2023)
- Authors:
- Bobitt, Julie(8), Clary, Kelly(2), Krawitz, Michael, Silva, Laura Quintero, Kang, Hyojung
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04422
Evidence Hierarchy
Uses interviews or focus groups to understand experiences in depth.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Why are older veterans using medical cannabis?
Veterans in this study reported using cannabis as a harm reduction strategy, substituting it for opioids and benzodiazepines used to treat chronic pain and mental health conditions.
Do VA doctors help veterans with cannabis decisions?
Most veterans reported limited physician engagement regarding cannabis use, and noted inconsistent policies across the VA system that discouraged open discussion.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04422APA
Bobitt, Julie; Clary, Kelly; Krawitz, Michael; Silva, Laura Quintero; Kang, Hyojung. (2023). Prevention, Practice, and Policy: Older US Veterans' Perspectives on Cannabis Use.. Drugs & aging, 40(1), 59-70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40266-022-00995-2
MLA
Bobitt, Julie, et al. "Prevention, Practice, and Policy: Older US Veterans' Perspectives on Cannabis Use.." Drugs & aging, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40266-022-00995-2
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Prevention, Practice, and Policy: Older US Veterans' Perspec..." RTHC-04422. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/bobitt-2023-prevention-practice-and-policy
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.