Dancers Who Use Cannabis to Cope Show Higher Risk of Use Disorder | Research

The takeaway

Among 108 dancers surveyed worldwide, those with higher cannabis use disorder scores were significantly more likely to use cannabis for coping and consciousness expansion, with 15% reporting it impaired their dance performance.

Dance medicine professionals, performing arts wellness programs, dance educators, and dancers who use cannabis.

What the researchers found

Dancers with CUDIT-R scores above 12 were significantly more likely to cite coping (65.6% vs. 29.5%, p<0.001) and expansion motives (43.8% vs. 18.4%, p=0.005), while 14.8% reported failing dance responsibilities due to cannabis use, with these dancers scoring 19.5 vs. 7.7 on the CUDIT-R.

Why it matters

This is the first study to examine cannabis use in dancers, revealing that coping-motivated use — common in high-pressure performing arts — is a warning sign for problematic cannabis use patterns.

The numbers in context

N=108 dancers; 14.8% impaired dance performance; impaired dancers CUDIT-R=19.5 vs 7.7; coping motive: 65.6% vs 29.5% (p<0.001); expansion motive: 43.8% vs 18.4% (p=0.005)

How the study worked

Online survey of 108 dancers worldwide (Oct 2023-Jan 2024) who used cannabis in the past 6 months, assessing Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test-Revised (CUDIT-R) scores, use motives, and performance impacts.

What this study cannot tell us

Small convenience sample; self-selection bias; online survey; no comparison to non-dancer populations; cross-sectional design; diverse dance styles may have different cultures; survey conducted during specific time window.

How to read the evidence

First study in this population provides novel descriptive data, but small convenience sample and cross-sectional design limit generalizability.

When this study was published

Published 2026; survey Oct 2023-Jan 2024.

The bigger picture

Performers face unique pressures (body image, injury, job insecurity) that may drive coping-motivated substance use — understanding these patterns can inform arts-specific wellness programs.

Questions still open

How does cannabis use in dancers compare to musicians or actors? Would dance-specific stress management programs reduce coping-motivated cannabis use? Does cannabis use affect dance injury risk?

Common questions

Do dancers use cannabis for performance?

Some dancers use cannabis for relaxation, pain management, or creative expansion, but this study found that 15% reported it actually impaired their dance performance — and those with higher use disorder scores were most likely to use for coping.

Is cannabis use a problem in the dance community?

This study suggests it can be — dancers who used cannabis primarily to cope or for consciousness expansion had significantly higher cannabis use disorder scores, suggesting performing arts-specific prevention programs may be needed.

Read the original research

Coping and Expansion Are Concerning Motives for Cannabis Use in a Dancer Cohort.

Journal of dance medicine & science : official publication of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science, 1089313X261417188

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Honrado, Joshua; Yassin, Sallie. (2026). Coping and Expansion Are Concerning Motives for Cannabis Use in a Dancer Cohort.. Journal of dance medicine & science : official publication of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science, 1089313X261417188. https://doi.org/10.1177/1089313X261417188