Cannabis Use Has Increased in Older Americans
Researchers with the Department of Health Management and Policy at the University of Iowa conducted a review of cannabis use, examining the reasons behind increases in the use of cannabis in older adults.1
Since 2000, the percentage of Americans over the age of 50 using cannabis has increased from 1% to 3.9%.2
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In the past year, the majority of Americans over 50 reported using cannabis less than once every ten days, and one-fourth reported using cannabis 5 times during the last year. About 9 out of 10 older adults reported no emotional or function problems. In addition, older adults using cannabis were more likely to have started by age 30.
The researchers sought to examine this increase using an age-period-cohort paradigm to examine the reasons for and outcomes in cannabis use among older adults. Their findings considered how changes in the social and legal environment, and age-related health care needs influence the use of cannabis both recreationally, and as a form of pain management.
The study also considered the effects of misuse and abuse of cannabis, and how cannabis may be a viable policy alternative for supporting the health and well-being of aging Americans.
“On the one hand, cannabis may be an effective substitute for prescription opioids and other misused medications; on the other hand, cannabis has emerged as an alternative for the undertreatment of pain at the end of life. As intriguing as these alternatives may be, policy makers must first address the need for empirically driven, representative research to advance the discourse,” the researchers concluded.1
—Melissa Weiss
Reference:
1) Kaskie B, Ayyagari P, Milavetz G, Shane D, and Arora K. The increasing use of cannabis among older Americans: a public health crisis or viable policy alternative [published online January 11, 2017]. The Gerontologist. doi:10.1093/geront/gnw166.
2) Oxford Univesrity Press. More older Americans using cannabis, underscoring need for research [press release]. January 13, 2017. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/315219.php. Date accessed: January 13, 2017.