Cannabis use and cannabis use disorder strongly linked to mental health conditions in pregnant and postpartum women
In a nationally representative US sample, pregnant and postpartum women with mood, anxiety, PTSD, or personality disorders had 2 to 12 times higher odds of cannabis use disorder compared to those without these conditions.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among 1,316 pregnant and postpartum women, past-year cannabis use prevalence was 9.8% and cannabis use disorder (CUD) was 3.2%. Women with any past-year mood, anxiety, or PTSD disorder had 2.1 to 3.9 times higher odds of cannabis use, and 2.6 to 10.4 times higher odds of CUD. Specific disorder associations with CUD ranged from 2.4 to 11.6 times higher odds.
Key Numbers
1,316 women (414 pregnant, 902 postpartum); 9.8% past-year cannabis use; 3.2% CUD; cannabis use aORs: 2.10-3.87 for any mood/anxiety/PTSD; CUD aORs: 2.55-10.44; specific disorder CUD aORs: 2.36-11.60
How They Did This
Analysis of the 2012-2013 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (NESARC-III). Weighted logistic regression models estimated associations between past-year cannabis use, DSM-5 CUD, and DSM-5 mental health disorders among 414 pregnant and 902 postpartum women aged 18-44.
Why This Research Matters
The pregnancy and postpartum period is already a time of heightened mental health vulnerability. The strong association between mental health disorders and cannabis use/CUD in this population highlights the need for integrated screening and treatment.
The Bigger Picture
As prenatal and postpartum cannabis use increases, the strong comorbidity with mental health disorders suggests that addressing one without the other is likely insufficient.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional data cannot determine whether mental health disorders drive cannabis use or vice versa. Data from 2012-2013 may not reflect current patterns given rapid cannabis legalization. Self-reported cannabis use and psychiatric diagnoses.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does treating the underlying mental health condition reduce cannabis use during pregnancy?
- ?How have these associations changed since further cannabis legalization post-2013?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Up to 11.6x higher odds of cannabis use disorder with specific mental health diagnoses
- Evidence Grade:
- Nationally representative survey with DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and weighted analyses, though cross-sectional design limits causal inference.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023 using 2012-2013 data
- Original Title:
- Cannabis use, cannabis use disorder and mental health disorders among pregnant and postpartum women in the US: A nationally representative study.
- Published In:
- Drug and alcohol dependence, 248, 109940 (2023)
- Authors:
- Brown, Qiana L(3), Shmulewitz, Dvora(4), Sarvet, Aaron L, Young-Wolff, Kelly C, Howard, Tyriesa, Hasin, Deborah S
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04436
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Is cannabis use disorder more common in pregnant women with mental health conditions?
Yes. In this national survey, pregnant and postpartum women with mood, anxiety, PTSD, or personality disorders had 2.6 to 10.4 times higher odds of meeting criteria for cannabis use disorder.
How common is cannabis use during pregnancy and postpartum?
In this nationally representative sample, 9.8% of pregnant and postpartum women reported past-year cannabis use, and 3.2% met criteria for cannabis use disorder.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04436APA
Brown, Qiana L; Shmulewitz, Dvora; Sarvet, Aaron L; Young-Wolff, Kelly C; Howard, Tyriesa; Hasin, Deborah S. (2023). Cannabis use, cannabis use disorder and mental health disorders among pregnant and postpartum women in the US: A nationally representative study.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 248, 109940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.109940
MLA
Brown, Qiana L, et al. "Cannabis use, cannabis use disorder and mental health disorders among pregnant and postpartum women in the US: A nationally representative study.." Drug and alcohol dependence, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.109940
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis use, cannabis use disorder and mental health disord..." RTHC-04436. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/brown-2023-cannabis-use-cannabis-use
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.