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Cannabis Use Disorder Is Rising-Public Health Needs To Catch Up
Yahoo Health • • health
Key Points:
- A study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that cannabis use disorder (CUD) increased among American adults from 2021 to 2024, rising from 7.3% to 9.3% in men and from 4.5% to 5.6% in women, with moderate-to-severe cases also increasing notably.
- CUD involves impaired control over cannabis use despite negative consequences, challenging the common perception that marijuana is a relatively safe and non-addictive drug.
- Factors contributing to the rise in CUD include higher potency of modern cannabis products, greater availability, and declining perceptions of harm.
- Public health efforts should focus on education, prevention, and treatment rather than stigma, emphasizing that legalized cannabis is not risk-free and promoting routine screening by healthcare providers.
- Evidence-based treatments, including behavioral interventions and counseling, are recommended for individuals with CUD to address cannabis use and coexisting mental health or substance-use disorders.
