Loneliness and cannabis use among older adults: findings from a Canada national survey during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Cannabis use has been increasing among older adults in Canada, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to examine the association between loneliness and cannabis use among older Canadians during the pandemic.

METHODS

Quantitative data analyses were performed based on 2,020 participants aged 55 years and older from the Canadian Perspectives Survey Series 6, 2021: Substance Use and Stigma During the Pandemic.

RESULTS

This study found that participants who used cannabis in the 30 days before the survey reported significantly higher loneliness scores than those who never used cannabis after adjusting social-demographic, social interaction, and pandemic-related factors. Participants who kept using cannabis during the pandemic also reported significantly higher loneliness scores than those who never used cannabis.

CONCLUSION

The findings about the correlation between cannabis use and greater loneliness contribute to the discourse on potential health and wellbeing harms of cannabis use among older adults.

Prevalence and Frequency of Cannabis Use Among Adults Ages 50-80 in the United States

Introduction: Legal access to and attitudes toward cannabis are changing rapidly. Most of the United States and territories allow adults to use medical and/or recreational cannabis. Recent trends demonstrate increasing cannabis use among older U.S. adults. However, little research has examined cannabis use among older adults since 2019, when the COVID-19 pandemic caused major changes in patterns of substance use. Methods: The National Poll on Healthy Aging is a nationally cross-sectional survey that asked U.S. adults ages 50-80 in January 2021 about their cannabis use in the past year. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify demographic and health characteristics associated with cannabis use. Results: Among 2023 participants aged 50-80 (52.7% female), 12.1% reported cannabis use in the past year. Among those who reported cannabis use, 34.2% reported using cannabis products 4 or more days per week. In multivariable logistic regression, cannabis use was less likely among people who identified as Hispanic ethnicity or as "other" races compared with non-Hispanic white respondents. Cannabis use was more likely among unmarried/unpartnered and unemployed respondents. Those who consumed alcohol were more likely to use cannabis. Conclusions: More than one in 10 U.S. adults aged 50-80 used cannabis in the 1st year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and many used cannabis frequently. As access to and use of cannabis continue to increase nationally, clinicians and policymakers should monitor and address the potential risks among older adults.

Cannabis use prevalence, patterns, and reasons for use among patients with cancer and survivors in a state without legal cannabis access

PURPOSE

Cannabis use among patients with cancer is common, yet data are limited regarding use patterns, reasons for use, and degree of benefit, which represents an unmet need in cancer care delivery. This need is salient in states without legal cannabis programs, where perceptions and behavior among providers and patients may be affected.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of patients with cancer and survivors at the Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina (no legal cannabis marketplace in SC) was completed as part of the NCI Cannabis Supplement. Patients (ages 18 +) were recruited using probability sampling from patient lists (N = 7749 sampled; N = 1036 completers). Weight-adjusted Chi-square tests compared demographics and cancer details among patients using cannabis since diagnosis versus those not using cannabis, while weighted descriptives are presented for cannabis use prevalence, consumption, symptom management, and legalization beliefs.

RESULTS

Weighted prevalence of cannabis use since diagnosis was 26%, while current cannabis use was 15%. The most common reasons for cannabis use after diagnosis were difficulty sleeping (50%), pain (46%), and mood changes and stress, anxiety, or depression (45%). Symptom improvement was endorsed for pain (57%), stress/anxiety/depression (64%), difficulty sleeping (64%), and loss of appetite (40%).

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with cancer and survivors at a NCI-designated cancer center within SC, a state without legal access to medical cannabis, prevalence rates, and reasons for cannabis use are consistent with emerging literature in oncology populations. These findings have implications for care delivery, and work is needed to inform recommendations for providers and patients.

Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines (LRCUG) for reducing health harms from non-medical cannabis use: A comprehensive evidence and recommendations update

BACKGROUND

Cannabis use is common, especially among young people, and is associated with risks for various health harms. Some jurisdictions have recently moved to legalization/regulation pursuing public health goals. Evidence-based 'Lower Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines' (LRCUG) and recommendations were previously developed to reduce modifiable risk factors of cannabis-related adverse health outcomes; related evidence has evolved substantially since. We aimed to review new scientific evidence and to develop comprehensively up-to-date LRCUG, including their recommendations, on this evidence basis.

METHODS

Targeted searches for literature (since 2016) on main risk factors for cannabis-related adverse health outcomes modifiable by the user-individual were conducted. Topical areas were informed by previous LRCUG content and expanded upon current evidence. Searches preferentially focused on systematic reviews, supplemented by key individual studies. The review results were evidence-graded, topically organized and narratively summarized; recommendations were developed through an iterative scientific expert consensus development process.

RESULTS

A substantial body of modifiable risk factors for cannabis use-related health harms were identified with varying evidence quality. Twelve substantive recommendation clusters and three precautionary statements were developed. In general, current evidence suggests that individuals can substantially reduce their risk for adverse health outcomes if they delay the onset of cannabis use until after adolescence, avoid the use of high-potency (THC) cannabis products and high-frequency/-intensity of use, and refrain from smoking-routes for administration. While young people are particularly vulnerable to cannabis-related harms, other sub-groups (e.g., pregnant women, drivers, older adults, those with co-morbidities) are advised to exercise particular caution with use-related risks. Legal/regulated cannabis products should be used where possible.

CONCLUSIONS

Cannabis use can result in adverse health outcomes, mostly among sub-groups with higher-risk use. Reducing the risk factors identified can help to reduce health harms from use. The LRCUG offer one targeted intervention component within a comprehensive public health approach for cannabis use. They require effective audience-tailoring and dissemination, regular updating as new evidence become available, and should be evaluated for their impact.

Alcohol use disorder and treatment receipt among individuals aged 50 years and older: Other substance use and psychiatric correlates

OBJECTIVE

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is increasing among U.S. individuals aged 50+. We examined associations of past-year AUD with other substance use and any mental illness (AMI) and associations of past-year AUD treatment receipt with other substance use, AMI, and mental health treatment receipt among those with AUD.

METHODS

Data came from the 2015-2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (N = 35,229). We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to examine the research questions.

RESULTS

In the 50+ age group, 58.7% of women and 66.9% of men reported past-year alcohol use and 2.0% of women and 4.9% of men had AUD. Those with any alcohol use problem (binge drinking, heavy drinking, or AUD) had higher odds of other substance use or use disorders; however, AMI was associated with higher odds of AUD only (AOR = 2.54, 95% CI = 2.15-3.00, AOR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.98-3.50, and AOR = 3.13, 95% CI = 2.19-4.48, respectively, for mild, moderate, and serious mental illness). Only 7.9% of those with AUD received any alcohol treatment. AMI and mental health treatment were associated with higher odds of alcohol treatment receipt (AOR = 5.18, 95% CI = 2.13-12.55, AOR = 4.14, 95% CI = 1.51-11.30, and AOR = 2.91, 95% CI = 1.41-6.00, respectively, for moderate mental illness, serious mental illness, and mental health treatment receipt).

CONCLUSION

The findings show that fewer than one in 10 older adults with AUD received any alcohol treatment and suggest that individuals need education on alcohol harms and assistance in accessing alcohol treatment. Combined mental health and alcohol treatment at a single location may improve access and use.

Marijuana and thromboembolic events in geriatric trauma patients: The cannabinoids clots correlation!

BACKGROUND

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can alter the coagulation cascade resulting in hypercoagulability. The aim of our study is to evaluate the impact of THC use on thromboembolic complications (TEC) in geriatric trauma patients (GTP).

METHODS

This is a 2017 analysis of the TQIP database including all GTP (age ≥65 years). Patients were stratified based on THC use. Propensity score matching (1:2 ratio) was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 2,835 patients were matched (THC+: 945 and THC-: 1,890). Mean age was 70 ± 6 years, 94% sustained blunt injuries, and median ISS was 22[12-27]. Sixty-two percent of patients received thromboprophylaxis, with median time to initiation of 27 h from admission. Overall, the rate of TEC was 2.1% and mortality was 6.0%. THC + patients had significantly higher rates of TEC compared to THC- patients (3.0% vs. 1.7%; p = 0.01). Rates of DVT (2.2% vs 0.6%, p < 0.01) and PE (1.4% vs 0.4%, p < 0.01) were higher in the THC + group.

CONCLUSION

THC exposure increases the risk of TEC in GTP. Incorporation of THC use into risk assessment protocols merits serious consideration in GTP.

Cannabis Use among Persons with Dementia and Their Caregivers: Lighting up an Emerging Issue for Clinical Gerontologists

Objectives: Our goal is to illuminate cannabis use among persons with dementia (PwD) and their informal caregivers relative to the use of evidence-based as well as other complementary and alternative care practices. Methods: We analyzed focus group (FG) narratives provided by 26 caregivers of PwD and identified five themes concerning the provision of cannabis to PwD and caregivers' self-use. Results: Three of the 26 caregivers provided PwD cannabis and also used themselves, another 3 of the 26 used themselves only, and all but two of the remaining FG participants indicated they would consider providing cannabis to PwD or using for themselves. These caregivers expressed a desire to obtain more empirically-based information about cannabis and to discuss options with their clinical care providers. Conclusions: A small but significant proportion of caregivers are providing cannabis to PwD as a possible treatment for agitation, sleep disturbances and other problematic secondary symptoms and using for themselves as way to relieve stress. Many other caregivers may start using cannabis upon receiving information and guidance from a credible source. Clinical Implications: Notwithstanding the need for more research, clinical gerontologists and other dementia care specialists are being looked upon to provide information and guidance about the benefits and harms of cannabis use among PwD and their caregivers.