Dancers Who Use Cannabis to Cope Show Higher Risk of Use Disorder
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.
Quick Facts
What This Study 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.
Key Numbers
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 They Did This
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.
Why This Research 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 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.
What This Study Doesn't 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.
Questions This Raises
- ?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?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- First study in this population provides novel descriptive data, but small convenience sample and cross-sectional design limit generalizability.
- Study Age:
- Published 2026; survey Oct 2023-Jan 2024.
- Original Title:
- Coping and Expansion Are Concerning Motives for Cannabis Use in a Dancer Cohort.
- Published In:
- Journal of dance medicine & science : official publication of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science, 1089313X261417188 (2026)
- Authors:
- Honrado, Joshua, Yassin, Sallie
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08339
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked 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.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08339APA
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
MLA
Honrado, Joshua, et al. "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, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1177/1089313X261417188
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Coping and Expansion Are Concerning Motives for Cannabis Use..." RTHC-08339. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/honrado-2026-coping-and-expansion-are
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.