Marijuana use has reached a new high among older adults in the U.S.
Also increasing, the researchers found, is marijuana use among older adults who are college-educated, higher-income earners and female.
Another key finding: Older adults with two or more chronic diseases are more likely to use marijuana than people with fewer health issues.
Older adults also face a higher risk of falls from marijuana.
What’s more, cannabis can interact with medications that are commonly used by older adults, such as warfarin, opioids and benzodiazepines.
The use of marijuana by older adults in the United States has increased to a new level. S. .
Researchers from New York University’s School of Global Public Health’s Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research conducted an analysis in 2023 that found that about 7% of adults 65 and older reported using the drug in the previous month.
The study, which was published on June 2 in JAMA Internal Medicine, shows that that share has increased from 4 to 8 percent in 2021. According to a prior study, the percentage of people over 65 who used it increased from 2 percent in 2015 to 4 percent in 2018.
The researchers discovered that marijuana use among female older adults, those with college degrees, and those with higher incomes is also on the rise. Joseph Palamar, the study’s senior author and an associate professor of population health at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, stated in a statement that “there have been significant shifts in use according to demographic and socioeconomic factors.”.
For instance, the lowest prevalence of use in 2021 was found among older adults with yearly incomes of at least $75,000, at 4.2 percent. However, by 2023, their prevalence was 91%, the highest among lower-income groups. When compared to groups with some or no college education, use was highest in 2023 among older adults with a college or postgraduate degree, at 8–3%.
Those who have two or more chronic illnesses are more likely to use marijuana than those who have fewer health problems, according to another important finding. Between 2021 and 2023, this group’s older adult use increased by 134.3 percent. The researchers discovered that during the same period, cannabis use among senior citizens in states where medical marijuana is legal increased by roughly 46%.
Marijuana is currently legal for medical use in 39 states, three territories, and the District of Columbia.
Residents of states that permit medical cannabis use are using it more frequently, which shouldn’t be shocking, according to Palamar. This could be because of its greater accessibility or social acceptance.
“It’s interesting to note that, in terms of income, the highest earners had the lowest prevalence of cannabis use in 2021, but by 2023, this group had the highest prevalence, which may indicate who has access to medical cannabis given its costs,” he said.
For older adults, cannabis use can raise health risks.
According to the researchers, the results of the study emphasize the necessity for medical professionals to screen adult patients for cannabis use and inform them of any possible risks.
“As a geriatrician, I see an increasing number of people who want to use cannabis to treat symptoms of chronic illnesses. However, if patients are not informed about the risks and use of cannabis, it can be detrimental and make managing chronic illnesses more difficult, according to study co-author Benjamin Han, MdotD. , an associate professor and associate chief of research at the University of California, San Diego’s Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology and Palliative Care, said in a statement.
These hazards may include variations in blood pressure and heart rate, respiratory and breathing problems brought on by smoking, impaired coordination, and memory problems. Additionally, marijuana use increases the risk of falls among older adults. Additionally, cannabis may interact with drugs like benzodiazepines, opioids, and warfarin that are frequently taken by older adults.
“Educating people about their actions is crucial,” Palamar stated. While it isn’t the most harmful drug, it should not be misused. Studies have shown that older adults who use marijuana are increasingly visiting emergency rooms.
AARP-sponsored National Poll on Healthy Aging’s 2024 report revealed that some senior citizens are discussing marijuana use with their physicians. 43 percent of older adults who used cannabis at least once a month brought up the subject with their healthcare providers, and 56 percent reported talking about it with them.
Palamar told AARP, “You should not assume that someone has never used drugs just because they are older.”.
