A brand new examine, printed within the Cannabis and Cannabinoids Research journal, discovered extra older Americans are utilizing hashish at the moment than earlier than the pandemic. According to researchers with the University of Michigan’s Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, roughly 1 in 8 Americans over 50 at present use the substance.
“As the stress of the pandemic and the increased legalization of cannabis by states converged, our findings suggest cannabis use increased among older adults nationally,” habit psychologist and examine lead Anne Fernandez instructed the University of Michigan.
“Older adults represent a vulnerable age group for cannabis use due to interactions with medications, risky driving, cannabis-related mental health impacts and increased possibility of falls and memory issues.”
To decide what number of older adults are at present utilizing hashish, in comparison with years handed, researchers analyzed knowledge from the National Poll on Healthy Aging, a ballot funded by AARP and Michigan Medicine.
The ballot was taken in January 2021 and featured 2,023 older adults. While roughly 12% of older adults within the examine mentioned they used hashish throughout the previous yr, solely 9.5% used the substance in 2019.
“Other research has shown that using both alcohol and cannabis increases the chance that a person will drive while impaired,” Fernandez mentioned. “They are also more likely to have physical and mental health issues, including substance use disorders. Screening for alcohol use, cannabis use, and other drug use could help more people get counseling and reduce their risk and risk to others.”
Among those that mentioned they’ve used hashish throughout the previous yr, 34% mentioned they used the substance 4 or extra days per week.
Some older adults have been additionally discovered to be extra seemingly to make use of hashish than others. Those who consumed alcohol have been discovered to be extra seemingly to make use of the substance, in addition to single/unpartnered and unemployed respondents.
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