National Survey Finds 2.5% of US Adults Had Cannabis Use Disorder in the Past Year, and Most Never Got Treatment
A landmark national survey of 36,309 adults found that 2.5% had a past-year cannabis use disorder and 6.3% had a lifetime diagnosis, with young men, Native Americans, and low-income individuals at highest risk, and only 13% ever receiving treatment.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
This study provided the first nationally representative prevalence data for cannabis use disorder using the updated DSM-5 criteria. Among 36,309 US adults interviewed in 2012-2013, 2.5% met criteria for a past-year cannabis use disorder and 6.3% for a lifetime diagnosis.
Those with cannabis use disorder used marijuana frequently, averaging 225 days per year for past-year cases. The disorder was strongly associated with other substance use disorders, mood disorders, anxiety, and personality disorders, with these associations strengthening as severity increased.
Perhaps the most striking finding was the treatment gap: only 13.2% of those with a lifetime cannabis use disorder ever participated in treatment or 12-step programs.
Key Numbers
12-month prevalence: 2.5%. Lifetime prevalence: 6.3%. Mean use: 225 days/year (12-month cases), 274 days/year (lifetime cases). Young adults 18-24 had 7.2x higher odds than those 45+. Only 13.2% with lifetime diagnosis ever received treatment. 36,309 participants.
How They Did This
Data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (NESARC-III), a nationally representative face-to-face survey of 36,309 adults 18+ conducted in 2012-2013. Psychiatric disorders were assessed using structured clinical interviews (AUDADIS-5). DSM-5 criteria were applied.
Why This Research Matters
This was the first major study to establish DSM-5 cannabis use disorder prevalence in the US population. The high comorbidity rates, association with disability, and massive treatment gap paint a picture of a condition that affects millions but is largely unaddressed by the healthcare system.
The Bigger Picture
This study established baseline prevalence data just as cannabis legalization was accelerating across the US. The combination of high prevalence, significant comorbidity, functional disability, and extremely low treatment rates suggests a growing public health challenge, particularly among young adults.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional data cannot determine whether cannabis use disorder causes psychiatric comorbidities or vice versa. Data were collected in 2012-2013, before many state legalization initiatives. Self-reported data may undercount cannabis use disorders.
Questions This Raises
- ?Has cannabis use disorder prevalence increased since legalization?
- ?Why is the treatment rate so low, and what barriers prevent people from seeking help?
- ?Would increased public awareness of cannabis use disorder improve treatment rates?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Only 13.2% of people with cannabis use disorder ever received treatment
- Evidence Grade:
- Large nationally representative sample with structured clinical interviews using DSM-5 criteria. One of the strongest epidemiological studies of cannabis use disorder available.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2016 using 2012-2013 data, before most state-level legalization. Prevalence may have changed.
- Original Title:
- Prevalence and Correlates of DSM-5 Cannabis Use Disorder, 2012-2013: Findings from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III.
- Published In:
- The American journal of psychiatry, 173(6), 588-99 (2016)
- Authors:
- Hasin, Deborah S(31), Kerridge, Bradley T(3), Saha, Tulshi D(2), Huang, Boji, Pickering, Roger, Smith, Sharon M, Jung, Jeesun, Zhang, Haitao, Grant, Bridget F
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01172
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 this nationally representative study, 2.5% of US adults (about 6 million people) had a past-year cannabis use disorder and 6.3% had a lifetime diagnosis.
Who is most at risk?
Young adults aged 18-24 had 7.2 times higher odds than those over 45. Men, Native Americans, unmarried individuals, and those with low incomes were also at elevated risk.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01172APA
Hasin, Deborah S; Kerridge, Bradley T; Saha, Tulshi D; Huang, Boji; Pickering, Roger; Smith, Sharon M; Jung, Jeesun; Zhang, Haitao; Grant, Bridget F. (2016). Prevalence and Correlates of DSM-5 Cannabis Use Disorder, 2012-2013: Findings from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III.. The American journal of psychiatry, 173(6), 588-99. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15070907
MLA
Hasin, Deborah S, et al. "Prevalence and Correlates of DSM-5 Cannabis Use Disorder, 2012-2013: Findings from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III.." The American journal of psychiatry, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15070907
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Prevalence and Correlates of DSM-5 Cannabis Use Disorder, 20..." RTHC-01172. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/hasin-2016-prevalence-and-correlates-of
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.