Housing Instability Was Linked to Higher Substance Use Among Older Cannabis Users in New York City
Among adults over 50 with a history of cannabis use living in New York City retirement communities, those worried about paying rent had worse health and higher rates of tobacco and other substance use.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Housing instability indicators — particularly concerns about paying rent/mortgage — were associated with worse self-reported health, higher tobacco use, and higher other substance use among older adults with cannabis use history. Frequent moves were associated with poorer health and alcohol-cannabis co-use.
Key Numbers
Adults over 50 in NYC NORCs with cannabis use history. Housing instability measured by rent/mortgage payment concerns and number of moves in 5 years. Significant associations found with worse health, tobacco use, and other substance use.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional study of adults over 50 with a history of cannabis use living in naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) in New York City. Bivariate analyses and logistic regression models examined relationships between housing instability indicators and health/substance use outcomes.
Why This Research Matters
As cities become more expensive and the population ages, understanding how financial stress affects substance use patterns among older adults — including cannabis users — is important for designing support services in aging communities.
The Bigger Picture
This study highlights the intersection of aging, housing affordability, and substance use. For older cannabis users, financial stress may compound substance use risks, suggesting that aging-in-place programs should consider integrating substance use support and financial counseling.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design — cannot determine causation. Specific to NYC NORC residents with cannabis history, limiting generalizability. Self-reported measures. Cannot determine whether housing stress drives substance use or vice versa.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would housing assistance programs reduce substance use among older adults?
- ?Is cannabis use in this population primarily recreational or self-medicating for stress?
- ?How do these patterns differ outside of high-cost cities?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Cross-sectional design with logistic regression analysis, but limited to a specific NYC population with cannabis use history.
- Study Age:
- Published 2025.
- Original Title:
- Housing instability, health, and substance use among adults over age 50 living in New York City.
- Published In:
- Frontiers in public health, 13, 1725374 (2025)
- Authors:
- Versey, H Shellae, Dougherty, Michelle, Mair, Christina
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07865
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does housing stress make older people use more substances?
The study found an association but cannot prove causation. Housing payment concerns were linked to higher substance use, but the relationship could go in either direction or be driven by shared underlying factors.
Why focus specifically on older adults with cannabis history?
As cannabis becomes legal in more states, the number of older adults with cannabis use history is growing. This population may face unique intersections of aging, financial stress, and substance use that differ from younger adults.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07865APA
Versey, H Shellae; Dougherty, Michelle; Mair, Christina. (2025). Housing instability, health, and substance use among adults over age 50 living in New York City.. Frontiers in public health, 13, 1725374. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1725374
MLA
Versey, H Shellae, et al. "Housing instability, health, and substance use among adults over age 50 living in New York City.." Frontiers in public health, 2025. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1725374
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Housing instability, health, and substance use among adults ..." RTHC-07865. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/versey-2025-housing-instability-health-and
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.