Cannabis use was common among Canadian military members seeking mental health treatment | Research

The takeaway

Among 415 Canadian Armed Forces members and veterans at a mental health clinic, cannabis use was prevalent and associated with younger age, PTSD, and self-medication motivations.

Military mental health clinicians, veterans affairs researchers, PTSD treatment specialists, and policymakers working on veteran cannabis access.

415 Canadian Armed Forces members/veterans surveyed at mental health clinic

What the researchers found

Cannabis use was common among treatment-seeking CAF members and veterans, with users more likely to be younger, have PTSD diagnoses, and report using cannabis specifically for symptom relief.

Why it matters

Military personnel and veterans with PTSD are turning to cannabis in growing numbers despite limited evidence for its effectiveness. Understanding who uses and why informs clinical conversations and research priorities.

The numbers in context

415 CAF members and veterans at a specialized mental health clinic in Ontario. Cannabis users were younger and more likely to carry PTSD diagnoses.

How the study worked

Cross-sectional analysis of intake data from 415 Canadian Armed Forces members and veterans attending a specialized outpatient mental health clinic in Ontario. Examined prevalence and correlates of current cannabis use.

What this study cannot tell us

Cross-sectional design from a single clinic. Treatment-seeking population may not represent all CAF members and veterans. Self-reported cannabis use may be affected by social desirability. Cannot determine whether cannabis use preceded or followed mental health conditions.

How to read the evidence

Single-site cross-sectional study. Useful for characterizing a specific population but limited generalizability and no causal inference possible.

When this study was published

Published 2022.

The bigger picture

Canada legalized recreational cannabis in 2018, and military/veteran populations face unique mental health burdens. The intersection of legalization, PTSD prevalence, and limited evidence-based treatments creates a situation where cannabis use may fill a perceived treatment gap.

Questions still open

Does cannabis use help or hinder PTSD treatment outcomes for military personnel? Would providing evidence-based cannabis guidance in military mental health settings improve outcomes?

Common questions

Do military veterans use cannabis for PTSD?

In this Canadian study, veterans with PTSD were more likely to use cannabis than those without PTSD, and many reported using it specifically for symptom relief. This mirrors findings from other military populations, though robust evidence that cannabis improves PTSD outcomes is still lacking.

Is cannabis an effective treatment for PTSD?

The evidence is mixed and incomplete. Some people report symptom relief, particularly for sleep and hyperarousal, but clinical trials have produced inconsistent results. Current clinical guidelines generally do not recommend cannabis as a front-line PTSD treatment.

Read the original research

Correlates of cannabis use in a sample of mental health treatment-seeking Canadian armed forces members and veterans.

BMC psychiatry, 23(1), 836

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

St Cyr, Kate; Nazarov, Anthony; Le, Tri; Nouri, Maede; Saha, Priyonto; Forchuk, Callista A; Soares, Vanessa; Wanklyn, Sonya G; Bird, Brian M; Davis, Brent D; King, Lisa; Ketcheson, Felicia; Richardson, J Don. (2023). Correlates of cannabis use in a sample of mental health treatment-seeking Canadian armed forces members and veterans.. BMC psychiatry, 23(1), 836. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05237-2