Most cannabis users in the US use multiple product types, with patterns varying by demographics
Analysis of the 2022 national drug survey found most US cannabis users consumed more than one type of product, with smoking remaining dominant but edibles, vaping, and dabbing increasingly common among both adults and adolescents.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among cannabis users surveyed in the 2022 NSDUH, the majority used more than one cannabis product type. Eight routes of administration were examined: smoking, vaping, eating/drinking, dabbing, drops/lozenges, topical, pills, and other. Prevalence patterns were fairly consistent between adults and adolescents, and individual-level factors associated with use varied by route of administration.
Key Numbers
Eight product types examined; majority of both adult and adolescent users consumed multiple product types; prevalence patterns consistent across age groups; individual-level correlates varied by route of administration
How They Did This
Analysis of 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data examining prevalence and correlates of eight cannabis product types and a cannabis variety scale among nationally representative samples of adult and adolescent cannabis users.
Why This Research Matters
Different routes of cannabis administration carry different risks. Understanding who uses which products can help target harm reduction messaging and clinical screening to the right populations.
The Bigger Picture
The diversification of cannabis products through legal dispensaries has created a complex consumption landscape where most users are multi-product consumers, complicating both research and public health messaging.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional survey data; self-reported use without verification; cannot determine frequency or quantity by product type; 2022 data from a single year; does not capture product potency or specific cannabinoid content
Questions This Raises
- ?Do multi-product users face greater health risks than single-product users?
- ?How should harm reduction messaging account for the dominant multi-product use pattern?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Majority of users consumed multiple product types
- Evidence Grade:
- Nationally representative survey data with comprehensive product type assessment, though cross-sectional and self-reported.
- Study Age:
- 2024 publication analyzing 2022 NSDUH data
- Original Title:
- The many forms of cannabis use: Prevalence and correlates of routes of administration among nationally representative samples of U.S. adult and adolescent cannabis users.
- Published In:
- Addictive behaviors, 159, 108146 (2024)
- Authors:
- Leal, Wanda E(2), Moscrop-Blake, Kelsi(2)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05460
Evidence Hierarchy
Watches what happens naturally without intervening.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How many cannabis product types do most users consume?
The majority of both adult and adolescent cannabis users reported using more than one type of cannabis product. The study examined eight categories: smoking, vaping, eating/drinking, dabbing, drops/lozenges, topical, pills, and other methods.
Do teens and adults use the same types of products?
The overall prevalence patterns were fairly consistent between adults and adolescents, though individual-level factors associated with using different product types varied. Certain demographic and personal characteristics predicted use of specific routes of administration.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05460APA
Leal, Wanda E; Moscrop-Blake, Kelsi. (2024). The many forms of cannabis use: Prevalence and correlates of routes of administration among nationally representative samples of U.S. adult and adolescent cannabis users.. Addictive behaviors, 159, 108146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108146
MLA
Leal, Wanda E, et al. "The many forms of cannabis use: Prevalence and correlates of routes of administration among nationally representative samples of U.S. adult and adolescent cannabis users.." Addictive behaviors, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108146
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "The many forms of cannabis use: Prevalence and correlates of..." RTHC-05460. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/leal-2024-the-many-forms-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.