Cannabis use increased among Americans with various disabilities and health conditions from 2015-2019
Analysis of 214,505 US adults found cannabis use increased from 2015-2019 across a wide range of disabilities and health conditions, often exceeding rates in the general population.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Past-month cannabis use increased significantly from 2015-2019 among adults with various disabilities and health conditions. Prevalence was consistently higher among those with health conditions compared to the general adult population.
Key Numbers
N=214,505 US adults from NSDUH 2015-2019. Cannabis use trended upward across a range of disabilities and health conditions over the 5-year period.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional analysis of 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (N=214,505 US adults). Examined trends in past-month cannabis use across multiple disability types and health conditions.
Why This Research Matters
People with health conditions are using cannabis at increasing rates, likely for symptom management. Understanding these trends helps clinicians anticipate conversations about cannabis and potential drug interactions.
The Bigger Picture
As cannabis use normalizes and medical cannabis programs expand, people with chronic conditions are among the most motivated consumers. Whether this trend represents self-medication, improved access, or both has important clinical implications.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
NSDUH cross-sectional design tracks population trends but not individual use trajectories. Self-reported data. Cannot determine whether cannabis was used for the health condition or recreationally. Health condition definitions may vary across survey years.
Questions This Raises
- ?Is cannabis use substituting for conventional medications in these populations?
- ?Do people with specific health conditions benefit more or less from cannabis use?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 214,505 adults; cannabis use increasing across disabilities and health conditions 2015-2019
- Evidence Grade:
- Large nationally representative survey with trend data. Cannot assess causation or clinical outcomes of use.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023. Data from 2015-2019.
- Original Title:
- Trends in past-month cannabis use among US adults across a range of disabilities and health conditions, 2015-2019.
- Published In:
- Preventive medicine, 177, 107768 (2023)
- Authors:
- Yang, Kevin H(8), Tam, Rowena M, Satybaldiyeva, Nora(6), Kepner, Wayne, Han, Benjamin H, Moore, Alison A, Palamar, Joseph J
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05043
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Are people with health conditions more likely to use cannabis?
Yes. This large national survey found cannabis use was consistently higher among adults with various health conditions compared to the general population, and these rates increased from 2015 to 2019. Many may be using cannabis for symptom management.
Is the increase in cannabis use among disabled adults a concern?
It depends on the context. Some may benefit from cannabis for pain, spasticity, or other symptoms. However, increased use also means more potential drug interactions, more patients making treatment decisions without clinical guidance, and the need for better evidence on cannabis effectiveness for specific conditions.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05043APA
Yang, Kevin H; Tam, Rowena M; Satybaldiyeva, Nora; Kepner, Wayne; Han, Benjamin H; Moore, Alison A; Palamar, Joseph J. (2023). Trends in past-month cannabis use among US adults across a range of disabilities and health conditions, 2015-2019.. Preventive medicine, 177, 107768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107768
MLA
Yang, Kevin H, et al. "Trends in past-month cannabis use among US adults across a range of disabilities and health conditions, 2015-2019.." Preventive medicine, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107768
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Trends in past-month cannabis use among US adults across a r..." RTHC-05043. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/yang-2023-trends-in-pastmonth-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.