Adolescent cannabis use disorder following recreational cannabis legalization in California, USA: A population-based interrupted time series study

Addiction

Adolescent past-year cannabis use trends have remained relatively flat nationally as legalization has spread, but less is known about clinical outcomes such as incident cannabis use disorder (CUD). Researchers evaluated incident CUD case trends among adolescents in California between 2014 and 2020 to assess recreational cannabis legalization (RCL) impact. Incidence of CUD was trending lower between 2014 and 2016 prior to RCL, but post-RCL there was an inflection in the annualized incidence rate , and it started to increase. Notably the increase in incidence trend started after RCL passage, even before implementation of the law. The increasing trend continued after RCL implementation and through 2020. The authors note these findings highlight the importance of monitoring CUD outcomes along with use prevalence to assess public health impacts of cannabis legalization.

Read this issue of the ASAM Weekly

Subscribe to the ASAM Weekly

Visit ASAM

Cannabis use and cannabis use disorder among older adults in the USA

Addiction

Cannabis use has increased among older adults (≥65 years) and to better describe cannabis use and cannabis use disorder (CUD) in this population researchers used the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from 2021 to 2024. Overall, 8.9% of older adults reported past 12-month use and 6.0% reported past 30-day use. Among those who reported past 12-month use, 11.4% met criteria for CUD (76% mild, 20.1% moderate, and 3.9% severe). Those with lifetime arrest, past-year mental illness, tobacco use, other drug use, frequent cannabis use (>300 days in last year), and males were more likely to have CUD. Of note, 19.9% of older adults reporting cannabis use reported it had been recommended by a doctor. The authors suggest clinicians should be screening for unhealthy cannabis use in this population and early intervention could be of benefit as many have mild CUD.

Read this issue of the ASAM Weekly

Subscribe to the ASAM Weekly

Visit ASAM

Psilocybin use, mental health treatment utilization, and unmet treatment need among US individuals with depression

Psychological Medicine

Psilocybin has shown benefit for treating depression in clinical trials, and in recent years its use has increased among the general population. In this study, researchers utilized the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) to evaluate the association of past-year psilocybin use among those with major depression and mental health treatment use. Overall, among persons with a past-year major depressive episode, 7.3% reported psilocybin use. Researchers found that psilocybin use was not associated with any difference in mental health treatment use, including inpatient, outpatient, and prescription medication. They did find that psilocybin use was associated with perceived unmet mental health treatment needs. The authors note that given the increase in psilocybin use, clinicians should be mindful that patients may have higher psychiatric burden and unmet treatment needs.

Read this issue of the ASAM Weekly

Subscribe to the ASAM Weekly

Visit ASAM