Only 1 in 10 Cannabis Users Seek Help for Problems, and Most Go to a Doctor First
Just 9.2% of cannabis consumers sought help for cannabis-related problems, with doctors being the most common source. In US states where cannabis is illegal, users were more likely to turn to family and friends.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among 13,209 past-12-month cannabis consumers, only 9.2% sought help in the past 3 months. Doctors were the most common source (44.9%). In illegal US states, consumers were nearly 5 times more likely to seek help from family/friends and half as likely to see a doctor.
Key Numbers
13,209 consumers. 9.2% sought help. Top source: doctor (44.9%). Illegal US states vs legal: family/friends AOR=4.76-5.73; doctor AOR=0.46-0.51.
How They Did This
Online survey from the International Cannabis Policy Study. 13,209 past-12-month consumers in Canada and the US. Assessed help-seeking behaviors, perceived addiction, and legal context.
Why This Research Matters
The low rate of help-seeking suggests significant unmet need. Legal context shapes where people seek help, with implications for public health planning.
The Bigger Picture
Where cannabis is illegal, seeking medical help means disclosing illegal behavior. This barrier pushes people toward potentially less effective informal support sources.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional self-report. Online sample limitations. Cannot determine effectiveness of help received.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would legalization increase formal help-seeking?
- ?How effective are informal sources compared to professional help?
- ?What barriers beyond legality prevent help-seeking?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Only 9.2% of cannabis consumers sought help for problems
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: large international sample with adjusted analyses, but cross-sectional self-report.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025.
- Original Title:
- Help-seeking behaviours among cannabis consumers in Canada and the United States: Findings from the international cannabis policy study.
- Published In:
- Drug and alcohol dependence reports, 14, 100306 (2025)
- Authors:
- Rundle, Samantha M, Hammond, David(36)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07532
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Do cannabis users seek help when they have problems?
Only about 1 in 10 (9.2%) sought help. Even among those at high risk of problematic use, only about a third sought help.
Does cannabis legalization affect help-seeking?
Yes. In illegal US states, users were about 5 times more likely to seek help from family and friends rather than a doctor.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07532APA
Rundle, Samantha M; Hammond, David. (2025). Help-seeking behaviours among cannabis consumers in Canada and the United States: Findings from the international cannabis policy study.. Drug and alcohol dependence reports, 14, 100306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dadr.2024.100306
MLA
Rundle, Samantha M, et al. "Help-seeking behaviours among cannabis consumers in Canada and the United States: Findings from the international cannabis policy study.." Drug and alcohol dependence reports, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dadr.2024.100306
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Help-seeking behaviours among cannabis consumers in Canada a..." RTHC-07532. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/rundle-2025-helpseeking-behaviours-among-cannabis
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.