A nationally representative Australian survey found that while most cannabis users were low-risk, 6.2% met criteria for high-risk use, with daily consumption, early initiation, and psychological distress as strong predictors.
Anyone interested in cannabis use disorder prevalence and the factors that predict problematic use.
Daily use was linked to 5.7x the odds of high-risk cannabis use
What the researchers found
Among 1,504 recent cannabis users, 71.6% were low/no risk, 22.2% were moderate risk, and 6.2% were high risk. Daily use was associated with 5.7 times the risk of high-risk classification. Starting before age 15 carried 2.5 times the risk compared to starting at 18 or older. Psychological distress tripled the risk.
Why it matters
With cannabis legalization debates ongoing globally, this nationally representative data helps quantify the proportion of users who develop problematic patterns and identifies the factors most strongly linked to high-risk use.
The numbers in context
71.6% low/no risk, 22.2% moderate risk, 6.2% high risk. Daily use: RRR=5.70 for high-risk. Starting before 15: RRR=2.52. Starting at 15-17: RRR=2.25. Psychological distress: RRR=3.19. Sample: 1,504 past-3-month cannabis users.
How the study worked
Cross-sectional analysis of the 2022-2023 Australian National Drug Strategy Household Survey. Cannabis use risk was measured using the WHO ASSIST-Lite. Multinomial logistic regression examined associations between risk level and use patterns, psychological distress, and demographics.
What this study cannot tell us
Cross-sectional design cannot determine whether factors like psychological distress preceded or followed high-risk cannabis use. Self-report data may underestimate use. Survey response rates affect representativeness.
How to read the evidence
Moderate: nationally representative survey with validated screening tool and robust statistical analysis, though cross-sectional design limits causal inference.
When this study was published
2025 study using 2022-2023 survey data.
The bigger picture
These findings align with international data suggesting that most cannabis users do not develop problematic use, but a meaningful minority does, particularly those who use daily, started young, or have existing mental health concerns.
Questions still open
- Would targeted interventions for daily users and early initiators reduce high-risk use rates? How do these proportions compare before and after legalization in various jurisdictions?
Common questions
What counts as high-risk cannabis use?
Does starting cannabis younger really matter?
Read the original research
Proportions and correlates of high-risk cannabis use in Australia-A cross-sectional analysis of the 2022-2023 National Drug Strategy Household Survey.
Addiction (Abingdon, England)
Citation
Leung, Janni; Stjepanović, Daniel; Chan, Gary Chung Kai; Hall, Wayne Denis; Dawson, Danielle. (2025). Proportions and correlates of high-risk cannabis use in Australia-A cross-sectional analysis of the 2022-2023 National Drug Strategy Household Survey.. Addiction (Abingdon, England). https://doi.org/10.1111/add.70234
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