Fewer older adults view regular cannabis use as risky, especially those with chronic diseases | Research

The takeaway

Between 2015 and 2019, the percentage of US adults 65+ who viewed regular cannabis use as risky dropped from 52.6% to 42.7%, with the steepest declines among those with chronic conditions.

Geriatric care providers, public health researchers, and older adults considering cannabis use.

52.6% to 42.7%: perceived risk dropped nearly 19% in 4 years among seniors

What the researchers found

Perceived risk of regular cannabis use decreased 18.8% overall among older adults. The sharpest drops occurred among those with kidney disease (32.1% decrease), asthma (31.7%), those who binge drink (31.3%), and never-married individuals (32.6%). People with two or more chronic conditions saw a 20.2% decrease.

Why it matters

Older adults with chronic conditions and high-risk behaviors are showing the fastest decline in perceived cannabis risk. This is notable because these are the same populations most likely to experience drug interactions or adverse effects from cannabis use.

The numbers in context

18,794 adults 65+. Perceived risk dropped from 52.6% (2015) to 42.7% (2019). Largest relative decreases: never married (32.6%), kidney disease (32.1%), binge drinkers (31.3%), asthma (31.7%), tobacco users (26.8%), COPD (21.5%), past-year ED use (21.0%), 2+ chronic conditions (20.2%), heart disease (16.5%).

How the study worked

Trend analysis of 18,794 adults aged 65+ from the 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), a nationally representative US survey. Examined perceived risk stratified by demographics, chronic diseases, substance use, and emergency department use.

What this study cannot tell us

Cross-sectional survey data cannot determine causation. Self-reported perceived risk may not directly translate to behavior change. Does not capture actual cannabis use rates in this population.

How to read the evidence

Large nationally representative sample with consistent methodology across years. Strong for describing trends, though limited to perception rather than actual use.

When this study was published

2021 study analyzing NSDUH data from 2015-2019.

The bigger picture

Declining risk perception typically precedes rising use rates. Among seniors already managing multiple medications and chronic conditions, increased cannabis use without medical guidance could introduce new health complications.

Questions still open

Is declining risk perception among chronically ill seniors translating into increased use? Are healthcare providers discussing cannabis with their older patients? What is driving the especially rapid perception shift among those with kidney disease?

Common questions

Which older adults showed the biggest drop in perceived cannabis risk?

Never-married adults (32.6% relative decrease), those with kidney disease (32.1%), binge drinkers (31.3%), and those with asthma (31.7%) showed the steepest declines.

Did the majority of older adults still see cannabis as risky by 2019?

Barely. By 2019, only 42.7% of adults 65+ viewed regular cannabis use as carrying great risk, down from 52.6% in 2015. The majority no longer rated it as high-risk.

Read the original research

Decreasing perceived risk associated with regular cannabis use among older adults in the United States from 2015 to 2019.

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 69(9), 2591-2597

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Han, Benjamin H; Funk-White, Makaya; Ko, Roxanne; Al-Rousan, Tala; Palamar, Joseph J. (2021). Decreasing perceived risk associated with regular cannabis use among older adults in the United States from 2015 to 2019.. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 69(9), 2591-2597. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.17213