Cannabis Use Disorder Nearly Quadrupled Suicidal Ideation Risk in Women Veterans
Among women veterans, past-year cannabis use disorder was associated with nearly 4 times higher odds of suicidal ideation, and lifetime cannabis use doubled the odds of suicide plans.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Women veterans had increased odds of suicidality compared to peers. Past-year cannabis use disorder increased odds of suicidal ideation nearly fourfold in women veterans (aOR=3.93, 95% CI: 1.21-13.81). Lifetime cannabis use doubled odds of suicide plans (aOR=2.02, 95% CI: 1.03-3.96). Cocaine and stimulant use also increased suicide plan odds.
Key Numbers
N=131,344. Cannabis use disorder and suicidal ideation in women vets: aOR=3.93 (95% CI: 1.21-13.81, p=.033). Lifetime cannabis use and suicide plans: aOR=2.02 (95% CI: 1.03-3.96, p=.040). Lifetime cocaine and plans: aOR=2.24 (95% CI: 1.20-4.05, p=.011).
How They Did This
Analysis of 2015-2019 NSDUH data (n=131,344). Binary logistic regression examining substance use and suicidality, adjusted for demographics, stratified by sex and veteran status.
Why This Research Matters
Women veterans face disproportionately high suicide rates. Identifying cannabis use disorder as a particularly strong risk factor provides a modifiable target for suicide prevention in this vulnerable population.
The Bigger Picture
The specificity of CUD (not combined drug use disorders) predicting suicidal ideation in women veterans suggests cannabis may play a unique role in suicidality for this population, potentially through its effects on mood regulation or social isolation.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional NSDUH data cannot establish temporal or causal relationships. Small number of women veterans with CUD limits statistical power (wide confidence intervals). Self-reported substance use and suicidality may be underreported. Cannot distinguish between cannabis causing suicidality and suicidal individuals self-medicating with cannabis.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does treating CUD in women veterans reduce suicidal ideation?
- ?Why is CUD specifically (not combined drug use) associated with suicidality in women veterans?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Cannabis use disorder was associated with 3.93x higher odds of suicidal ideation in women veterans
- Evidence Grade:
- Large nationally representative sample with appropriate stratification, but cross-sectional design, wide confidence intervals, and self-report limit strength.
- Study Age:
- 2025 publication with 2015-2019 NSDUH data.
- Original Title:
- The Association Between Substance Use and Suicidality Among Women Veterans, 2015 to 2019: A Secondary Analysis of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
- Published In:
- Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 10783903251398530 (2025)
- Authors:
- Kameg, Brayden
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06785
Evidence Hierarchy
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06785APA
Kameg, Brayden. (2025). The Association Between Substance Use and Suicidality Among Women Veterans, 2015 to 2019: A Secondary Analysis of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 10783903251398530. https://doi.org/10.1177/10783903251398530
MLA
Kameg, Brayden. "The Association Between Substance Use and Suicidality Among Women Veterans, 2015 to 2019: A Secondary Analysis of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.." Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1177/10783903251398530
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "The Association Between Substance Use and Suicidality Among ..." RTHC-06785. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/kameg-2025-the-association-between-substance
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.