16-Year Trends Show Fewer People with Cannabis Use Disorder Are Getting Treatment

Across three national survey time points (2003, 2011, 2019), CUD treatment utilization decreased while most individuals meeting diagnostic criteria did not receive treatment. Barriers shifted over time: people increasingly reported not knowing where to access treatment, not being ready to stop, inability to afford treatment, and concerns about stigma or occupational impact. Consistent predictors of receiving treatment included having past-year mental health treatment and being under community supervision (probation/parole).

Analysis of three cross-sectional waves from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2003, 2011, 2019). Included individuals meeting diagnostic criteria for CUD. Multivariate logistic regression examined predictors of receiving treatment and self-reported reasons for not receiving treatment.

As cannabis potency increases and recreational use expands, fewer people with diagnosable CUD are accessing treatment. The shifting barriers suggest systemic issues with treatment accessibility and awareness rather than individual unwillingness.

The declining treatment rate for CUD stands in contrast to the increasing availability and potency of cannabis products. If most people with CUD do not receive treatment and barriers are growing, the public health implications of cannabis liberalization may be underappreciated.

Cross-sectional survey design at each time point. Self-reported CUD diagnosis may differ from clinical assessment. NSDUH methodology changes across years may affect comparability. "Treatment" broadly defined and may include brief interventions or mandated programs.