Older-adult marijuana users and ex-users: Comparisons of sociodemographic characteristics and mental and substance use disorders

The relationship between past-month marijuana, cigarette, and cigar use among older adults in the United States

“…Notably, our analyses also found that past-month cigarette use is the strongest predictor of past-month marijuana use. These findings are consistent with prior studies on marijuana and tobacco use among older adults 6,7,[11][12][13] . Concurrent use of combustible tobacco and marijuana has been found to increase the likelihood of respiratory/pulmonary diseases 8 .…”

“…Another important finding of this study is that among past-month users of marijuana, cigarette, cigar and blunt, male respondents outnumbered female respondents. This finding is similar to that of previous studies using data from a national probability sample survey of non-institutionalized U.S. civilians and focusing on individuals 50 years and older 6,7,[11][12][13] . Given the evidence 3,8,11 indicating that consumption of marijuana may impede tobacco cessation attempts, our findings underscore the importance of clinicians to screen for use of marijuana and tobacco products, with consideration for gender.…”

Demographic trends among older cannabis users in the United States, 2006-13

“…A cross‐sectional study of the 1999–2001 National Household Surveys on Drug Abuse showed that lower education level was correlated with past‐year cannabis use by adults aged 50 and older and analysis of the 2008 National Survey on Drug use and Health (NSDUH) showed that among middle‐aged and older adults, cannabis users were more likely to be younger, black and more likely to smoke cigarettes and/or use other substances . Another recent study using the 2012–13 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC‐III) found that among adults aged 50 and older, 3.9% reported past‐year cannabis use and 21.7% reported being former users, and both past‐year and former users had high risk for mental disorders . However, more studies examining current trends over time and correlations of cannabis use by older adults are lacking.…”

Older adults’ marijuana use, injuries, and emergency department visits

“…Recent epidemiological data show that marijuana use has increased significantly over the past decade among all demographic subgroups, with especially notable increases among middle-aged and older adults (2)(3)(4). A study based on the 2012-2013 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC-III) found that 3.9% of the 50+ age group reported past-year marijuana use (5). The increasing marijuana use rate among older adults has been attributed to the aging baby boomers who have had greater exposure to marijuana; more permissive attitudes toward its recreational use than preceding generations; and marijuana's increased availability of and accessibility to marijuana owing to legalization of its medicinal and/or recreational use (6)(7)(8).…”

“…A majority of marijuana users aged 50+, including medical marijuana users, are long-term users who initiated use early in life; about one in six users had past-year marijuana use disorder; almost 90% used alcohol; and nearly a quarter also used other illicit drugs (5). Another study noted that one-third to more than one-half of registered medical marijuana participants in eight states were 50+ years old (10).…”