Nearly a third of US cannabis users met criteria for cannabis use disorder in 2022
Among US adults, 23% used cannabis in the past year and 30.3% of those users met criteria for cannabis use disorder, while only 16.5% of those with CUD received substance use treatment.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
23% of US adults used cannabis in the past year. Among users, 30.3% met CUD criteria (16.9% mild, 8.4% moderate, 5.0% severe). 52.4% of those with CUD had co-occurring substance use disorders. Only 16.5% of those with CUD received treatment. Among users without other substance disorders, only severe CUD (aOR=6.03) predicted treatment use.
Key Numbers
23% past-year cannabis use. 7% of all US adults had CUD (3.9% mild, 1.9% moderate, 1.2% severe). 30.3% of users had CUD. 38.4% of those with CUD had moderate/severe mental illness. 52.4% had other substance use disorders. 16.5% received treatment. Cannabis users had 3-4x higher rates of other SUDs.
How They Did This
Analysis of 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (N=47,100 adults 18+). CUD severity categorized as mild, moderate, or severe per DSM-5 criteria. Logistic regression examined associations between CUD severity and treatment use, framed by Andersen behavioral model.
Why This Research Matters
As cannabis legalization expands, understanding the prevalence of problematic use is critical. The finding that nearly a third of users meet CUD criteria yet very few receive treatment reveals a significant gap between need and service utilization.
The Bigger Picture
The treatment gap for cannabis use disorder mirrors patterns seen with alcohol. Most people with CUD do not seek or receive treatment, partly because cannabis is perceived as low-risk and partly because treatment infrastructure has not kept pace with legalization.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Self-report survey data subject to reporting bias. Cross-sectional design limits causal inference. NSDUH does not capture quantity, potency, or method of cannabis use. Treatment definition is broad and may include treatment for co-occurring conditions.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why do so few people with CUD receive treatment?
- ?Would expanded screening in primary care increase treatment uptake?
- ?Has CUD prevalence increased with state-level legalization?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 30.3% of cannabis users met CUD criteria; 16.5% received treatment
- Evidence Grade:
- Nationally representative survey of 47,100 adults using validated DSM-5 criteria. Provides reliable prevalence estimates though cross-sectional design and self-report are inherent limitations.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2024 using 2022 NSDUH data.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis use disorder and substance use treatment among U.S. adults.
- Published In:
- Journal of substance use and addiction treatment, 167, 209486 (2024)
- Authors:
- Choi, Namkee G(10), Moore, John(2), Choi, Bryan Y(4)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05206
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How common is cannabis use disorder?
In 2022, about 7% of all US adults (roughly 30% of cannabis users) met criteria for cannabis use disorder. Of those, about half had mild CUD, a quarter had moderate, and the rest had severe.
Do people with cannabis use disorder get treatment?
Very few. Only 16.5% of those with CUD received substance use treatment. Among those without other substance disorders, only severe CUD was significantly associated with seeking treatment.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05206APA
Choi, Namkee G; Moore, John; Choi, Bryan Y. (2024). Cannabis use disorder and substance use treatment among U.S. adults.. Journal of substance use and addiction treatment, 167, 209486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.josat.2024.209486
MLA
Choi, Namkee G, et al. "Cannabis use disorder and substance use treatment among U.S. adults.." Journal of substance use and addiction treatment, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.josat.2024.209486
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis use disorder and substance use treatment among U.S...." RTHC-05206. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/choi-2024-cannabis-use-disorder-and
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.