Cannabis Use Significantly More Common in Those With Depression

From 2005 to 2017, the prevalence of cannabis use in the US increased significantly more rapidly among individuals with depression than in those without depression, according to the findings of a recent study.

In order to estimate trends in the prevalence and risk perceptions of cannabis use in the US, the researchers conducted a study using data from 728,691 participants aged 12 years or older in the United States: National Survey on Drug Use and Health annual cross-sectional survey.

Overall, the prevalence of any, daily, and non-daily cannabis use within the last month was higher among those with depression compared with those without depression during each year studied. While cannabis use increased in both individuals with and without depression from 2005 to 2017, increases in any use or daily use were significantly more rapid among those participants with depression following adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics.

Further, the perception of risk associated with regular cannabis use was significantly lower and decreased significantly more rapidly among those individuals with depression than in those without.

“The prevalence of cannabis use in the U.S. increased from 2005 to 2017 among persons with and without depression and was approximately twice as common among those with depression. Persons with depression experienced a more rapid decrease in perception of risk, which may be related to the more rapid increase in any and daily past‐month cannabis use in this group,” the researchers concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Pacek LR, Weinberger AH, Zhu J, Goodwin RD. Rapid increase in the prevalence of cannabis use among persons with depression in the U.S., 2005‐2017: the role of differentially changing risk perceptions [published online December 4, 2019]. Addiction. doi: 10.1111/add.14883.