Psychiatry · Public Health ·
Multiple Cannabis Use Methods Associated With Higher Cannabis Use Disorder Rates
A cross-sectional analysis of 17,732 US adults who used cannabis in the prior month identified four consumption patterns. Cannabis use disorder was more common among people using nearly every form than among those primarily using edibles, although the study cannot establish causation.
- Analysis included 17,732 recent cannabis users.
- Cannabis use disorder was most common among polymodal users.
- Polymodal use was associated with more daily consumption.
- Observational, self-reported data cannot establish causation.
Researchers analyzed 2022–2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health responses from 17,732 US adults who had used cannabis in the previous month. Statistical methods identified four consumption patterns: primarily smoking (48%), smoking and vaping (21%), primarily using edibles (17%), and using nearly every available form (14%). The study was published online in *Addictive Behaviors*.
Daily cannabis use was reported by about half of the polymodal group, compared with 31% of those who smoked and vaped, 28% of primarily smokers, and 13% of primarily edible users. Cannabis use disorder criteria were met by 67% of polymodal users, 47% of the smoking-and-vaping group, 36% of primarily smokers, and 15% of primarily edible users. Younger adults made up nearly one-third of the polymodal group.
The authors suggest that asking patients how they use cannabis, as well as whether they use it, may help identify people who warrant fuller assessment. The findings are observational and based on self-reported use, so they do not show that using multiple forms causes cannabis use disorder. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
In practice
Among adults reporting past-month cannabis use, use across multiple forms was associated with higher rates of daily use and cannabis use disorder than primarily using one method. Asking about consumption methods may help clinicians identify patients for whom a fuller assessment could be warranted; the study does not establish a screening tool or prove that multiple methods cause disorder. Findings are based on self-reported, cross-sectional survey data and should not be interpreted as evidence that any method is protective.
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Addictive Behaviors (via ScienceDaily): Scientists discover a hidden warning sign of cannabis addiction ↗This is an automated AI-condensed summary that has not yet been reviewed by an editor. Always consult the full item at the original source.