Cannabis use increased among Americans with various disabilities and health conditions from 2015-2019 | Research

The takeaway

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.

Primary care clinicians, disability service providers, medical cannabis researchers, and public health analysts.

214,505 adults; cannabis use increasing across disabilities and health conditions 2015-2019

What the researchers 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.

Why it 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 numbers in context

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 the study worked

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.

What this study cannot 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.

How to read the evidence

Large nationally representative survey with trend data. Cannot assess causation or clinical outcomes of use.

When this study was published

Published 2023. Data from 2015-2019.

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.

Questions still open

Is cannabis use substituting for conventional medications in these populations? Do people with specific health conditions benefit more or less from cannabis use?

Common 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.

Read the original research

Trends in past-month cannabis use among US adults across a range of disabilities and health conditions, 2015-2019.

Preventive medicine, 177, 107768

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

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