Cannabis Use Disorder Affects 1.1% of Privately Insured Epilepsy Patients, With Young Men at Highest Risk | Research

The takeaway

Among 63,713 privately insured US adults with epilepsy, 1.1% had a diagnosed cannabis use disorder, with young adults aged 18-24 at more than five times the risk of those 65 and older.

People with epilepsy who use cannabis; neurologists; addiction medicine professionals

5x higher CUD risk in epilepsy patients aged 18-24 vs those 65+

What the researchers found

CUD prevalence was 1.1%. People with epilepsy and CUD had six times more tobacco use disorders and three times more mood disorders. Adults aged 18-24 had an adjusted risk ratio of 5.04 compared to those 65+.

Why it matters

Cannabis is increasingly used by epilepsy patients, but CUD risk in this population has been understudied.

The numbers in context

1.1% CUD prevalence. Age 18-24 vs 65+: aRR = 5.04 (95% CI: 3.83-6.65). CUD group had 6x tobacco use disorders and 3x mood disorders.

How the study worked

Cross-sectional analysis of 2022 IQVIA PharMetrics Plus claims data covering 63,713 unique adults with epilepsy.

What this study cannot tell us

Claims data identifies only diagnosed CUD. Privately insured population only. Cannot distinguish recreational vs medicinal use.

How to read the evidence

Large claims database analysis with over 63,000 patients; moderate.

When this study was published

2025 publication using 2022 claims data

The bigger picture

CBD-based treatments for epilepsy have raised cannabis's profile in this community.

Questions still open

Is CUD prevalence higher among epilepsy patients who use medical cannabis? Does CUD affect seizure control?

Common questions

Does using CBD for epilepsy increase the risk of cannabis use disorder?

This study did not distinguish between CBD and THC use. Cannabis use disorder is driven by THC, not CBD.

Why are young adults with epilepsy at higher risk for CUD?

Young adults generally have the highest rates of cannabis use. Combined with the stress of living with epilepsy, they may be more vulnerable.

Read the original research

Prevalence of cannabis use disorders and associated factors among privately insured adults with epilepsy.

Frontiers in neurology, 16, 1695511

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Czerniak, Katarzyna; Kim, Youngran; Sepulveda, Refugio; Myneni, Sahiti; Addy, Robert; Shegog, Ross. (2025). Prevalence of cannabis use disorders and associated factors among privately insured adults with epilepsy.. Frontiers in neurology, 16, 1695511. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2025.1695511