Cannabis Use and Misuse in Older Adults

This study examined associations among cannabis use disorder (CUD), 12-step program participation, and cannabis and other drug use at baseline and 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Participants were age 50 or older in a study of veterans receiving medical management of alcohol and/or opioid withdrawal ( N = 171). Generalized estimating equations examined the extent to which time point, 12-step program participation, and CUD were associated with change in number of cannabis and non-cannabis drug use days. Also examined was whether having CUD was associated with 12-step program participation. From baseline through the 6-month follow-up, 12-step program participation increased, non-cannabis drug use decreased, and cannabis use remained stable. Twelve-step program participation at baseline was associated with better outcomes at follow-ups. Participants with CUD reported less 12-step program participation and more cannabis use days at follow-ups. Older adults with CUD may need other types of psychosocial treatments due to low participation in 12-step programs.

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The Dark Web and cannabis use in the United States: Evidence from a big data research design

10.31235/osf.io/6r2h7 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Eric Jardine ◽

Andrew Micah Lindner

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Big Data ◽

State Level ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Us States ◽

The Past ◽

Cannabis Consumption ◽

First Time ◽

Dark Web

BackgroundCannabis is one of the most commonly sold drugs on cryptomarkets. Because of the anonymity-granting functions of Tor, no study has traced the within-country effect of the Dark Web on cannabis consumption patterns. This article uses a big data research design to examine the association between revealed interest in the Dark Web and self-reported cannabis use within US states from 2011 when Silk Road launched to 2015 when Operation Onymous shuttered nine markets.MethodsThis study uses mixed effects ordinary least squared regressions to analyze U.S. state/year panel data, using robust standard errors to correct for heteroscedasticity. Marginal effect plots illustrate substantive effects. The dataset consists of state-level variables drawn from the Uniform Crime Report (UCR), the American Community Survey (ACS), the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the Correlates of State Policy Project, and the Bureau of Justice Statistics Justice Expenditure and Employment Extracts. Data for the Dark Web interest measure are drawn from Google Trends. The proxy for Dark Web interest is an index of eight Dark Web related search queries.ResultsThe regression analysis indicates that Dark Web interest in US states positively correlates with cannabis consumption rates overall and among older adults (26+), but not youth (12–17) or younger adults (18–25). Additionally, Dark Web interest is positively associated with more frequent cannabis usage rates (i.e. use in the past month, excluding first time use) both overall and among older adults, but not among youth or younger adults. Dark Web interest does not correlate with casual use (i.e. use in the last year, excluding use in the past month) for any age bracket. Interacting Dark Web interest with state-level legalization regimes indicates that the association between Dark Web interest and cannabis consumption in the past year is no different in medically legalized states and amplified in states with recreational legalization. Lastly, the Dark Web interest term does not correlate with first time cannabis either overall or for any age category.ConclusionsInterest in the Dark Web is associated with increased cannabis use in U.S. states from 2011–2015, but the effect is concentrated in states with more frequent cannabis users, older users, and in states with recreational legalization of cannabis.

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Associations between probable anxiety and mood disorder and measures of alcohol and cannabis use in young, middle-aged and older adults.

Journal of Concurrent Disorders ◽

10.54127/tklt6639 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 9-19

Author(s):

Robert E. Mann ◽

Wah Lap Cheung ◽

Gina Stoduto ◽

Christine M. Wickens ◽

Anca R. Ialomiteanu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Age Groups ◽

Alcohol Problems ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Religious Service Attendance ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Impact

This study examined the associations of cannabis use, alcohol use and alcohol problems with probable anxiety and mood disorders (AMD) in young, middle-aged and older adults. Method: Data are based on the CAMH Monitor, an ongoing cross-sectional telephone survey of Ontario adults aged 18 years and older. For the purposes of the current study, a merged dataset from the years 2001 through 2009 inclusive was separated into three individual datasets: 18-34 year olds (n=4,211), 35-54 year olds (n=7,874), and 55 years of age and older (n=6,778). The survey included the 12-item version of the General Health Questionnaire, which provides a measure of probable AMD for the general population. Logistic regression analyses examined the odds of probable AMD in three age groups associated with alcohol measures (number of drinks per day and alcohol problems (AUDIT 8+)) and cannabis use, while controlling for self-reported physical health, religious service attendance, and demographic factors. Due to listwise deletion, the logistic regression models were based on reduced samples. Results: Lifetime cannabis use and past year cannabis use predicted probable AMD in young and middle-aged adults, but only lifetime cannabis use predicted probable AMD among older adults. Alcohol problems predicted probable AMD among middle aged and older adults, but not among younger adults. No consistent link between recent alcohol consumption and probable AMD was observed. Conclusion: These analyses suggest that the impact of alcohol and cannabis use and problems on probable AMD may differ across age groups.

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Long-Term Recreational Cannabis Use Is Associated With Lower Executive Function and Processing Speed in a Pilot Sample of Older Adults

Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology ◽

10.1177/08919887211049130 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 089198872110491

Author(s):

Katie Stypulkowski ◽

Rachel E. Thayer

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Working Memory ◽

Executive Function ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Bimodal Distribution ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Short Term ◽

Small Pilot Study

More older adults are using cannabis for recreational and/or medical purposes, but most studies examining cognitive function and cannabis use do not include older adults. The current small pilot study sought to compare cognitive function and emotional functioning among adults age 60 and older who were regular, primarily recreational cannabis users ( n = 28) and nonusers ( n = 10). A bimodal distribution was observed among cannabis users such that they had either initiated regular use more recently (“short-term” users; ≤7 years, n = 13) or earlier in life (“long-term” users; ≥19 years, n = 15). Nonusers, short-term, and long-term users were not different in depression, anxiety, or emotion regulation, or alcohol use. Nonusers scored significantly higher than long-term users in executive function. Short-term users scored significantly higher than long-term users in executive function, processing speed, and general cognition. Additionally, greater recent cannabis use frequency was negatively associated with working memory. The current findings suggest that short-term recreational cannabis use does not result in differences in cognitive performance compared to nonusers, which may indicate that short-term use is relatively benign in older adults. However, longer duration of use is associated with poorer processing speed and executive functioning, and more recent cannabis use is associated with poorer working memory, which may impact older adults’ overall cognitive functioning.

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Smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) of alcohol and cannabis use in older adults with and without HIV infection

Addictive Behaviors ◽

10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.10.016 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 83 ◽

pp. 102-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Emily W. Paolillo ◽

Lisa C. Obermeit ◽

Bin Tang ◽

Colin A. Depp ◽

Florin Vaida ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Hiv Infection ◽

Ecological Momentary Assessment ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Ecological Momentary ◽

Momentary Assessment

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Oral health implications of increased cannabis use among older adults: Another public health concern?

Journal of Substance Use ◽

10.1080/14659891.2018.1508518 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 61-65

Author(s):

Austin Le ◽

Joseph J. Palamar

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Oral Health ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Health Concern ◽

Public Health Concern ◽

Health Implications

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Increased Likelihood of Falling in Older Cannabis Users vs. Non-Users

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci11020134 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 134

Author(s):

Craig D. Workman ◽

Alexandra C. Fietsam ◽

Jacob Sosnoff ◽

Thorsten Rudroff

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Motor Function ◽

Fall Risk ◽

Balance Control ◽

The United States ◽

Normal Aging ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Gait Velocity ◽

The Impact

Cannabis is one of the most common drugs in the United States and is the third most prevalent substance consumed by adults aged 50 years and older. Normal aging is associated with physiological changes that make older adults vulnerable to impaired function and geriatric conditions (e.g., falls, cognitive impairment). However, the impact of medical cannabis use on fall risk in older adults remains unexplored. The purpose of this study was to investigate if cannabis use in older adults influences fall risk, cognitive function, and motor function. It was hypothesized that older chronic cannabis users would perform worse than non-users on gait, balance, and cognitive tests. Sixteen older adults, split into cannabis Users and age- and sex-matched Non-Users groups (n = 8/group), participated in the study. The results indicate a higher fall risk, worse one leg standing balance performance, and slower gait speed in Users vs. Non-Users. No significant differences in cognitive function were found. Thus, chronic cannabis use was purported to exacerbate the poorer balance control and slower gait velocity associated with normal aging. Future mechanistic (e.g., neuroimaging) investigations of the short- and long-term effects of using a variety of cannabis products (e.g., THC/CBD ratios, routes of administration) on cognitive function, motor function, and fall incidence in older adults are suggested.

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Disparity between Perceptual Fall Risk and Physiological Fall Risk in Older Cannabis Users: A Pilot Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph19010109 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 109

Author(s):

Craig D. Workman ◽

Jacob J. Sosnoff ◽

Thorsten Rudroff

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Fall Risk ◽

Fear Of Falling ◽

Dynamic Balance ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Group Differences ◽

Strong Correlations ◽

Medical Cannabis ◽

Future Studies

Aging is associated with cognitive decline and increased fall risk. Cognitive impairment is associated with cannabis use, which is increasing among older adults. Perceptual and physiological fall risk are discordant in some older adults, but whether cannabis use influences this association is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate possible disparities between perceptual and physiological fall risk in older cannabis users. Eight older medical cannabis users and eight sex- and age-matched non-users provided data on perceptual and physiological fall risk. Group differences were assessed, and perceptual fall risk was correlated with physiological fall risk. Perceptual risk and most of the physiological fall risk variables were equivalent between the groups. However, cannabis users performed significantly worse on unipedal stance than non-users. In addition, perceptual fall risk had weak correlations with physiological fall risk in the users (Spearman’s rho = 0.17–0.41) and moderate-strong correlations in non-users (rho = −0.18–0.67). Cannabis users might have a discrepancy between perceptual and physiological fall risk. Because both concepts play a role in quality of life, identifying strategies to improve them may have significant benefits. Future studies investigating additional perceptual (e.g., cognition, fear of falling, depression, anxiety), physiological (e.g., more challenging static and dynamic balance conditions), and general fall risk are warranted.

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Mental Health and Cognition in Older Cannabis Users: a Review

Canadian Geriatrics Journal ◽

10.5770/cgj.23.399 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 237-244

Author(s):

Blanca E. Vacaflor ◽

Olivier Beauchet ◽

G. Eric Jarvis ◽

Alessandra Schiavetto ◽

Soham Rej

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Adverse Effects ◽

Low Dose ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Cognitive Effects ◽

Medical Cannabis ◽

Short Term ◽

The Impact

Background The impact of cannabis use on mental health and cognition in older adults remains unclear. With the recent legalization of cannabis in Canada, physicians will need up-to-date information about the mental and cognitive effects of cannabis use in this specific population. Method A narrative review was conducted to summarize the literature on mental health and cognitive effects of cannabis use in older adults using Medline (OvidSP). Results A total of 16 studies were identified, including nine cross-sectional studies on mental health comorbidities reported by older cannabis users. The self-reported prevalence of mental and substance use disorders is approximately two to three times higher in older adults who report past-year cannabis use, compared to older adults who report using more than one year ago or never using. The remaining seven clinical trials found that short-term, low-dose medical cannabis was generally well-tolerated in older adults without prior serious mental illness. However, mental/cognitive adverse effects were not systematically assessed. Conclusion Although preliminary findings suggests that low-dose, short-term medical cannabis does not carry significant risk of serious mental health and cognitive adverse effects in older adults without prior psychiatric history, epidemiological studies find a correlation between past-year cannabis use and poor mental health outcomes in community-dwelling older adults. These findings may indicate that longer term cannabis use in this population is detrimental to their mental health, although a direct causal link has not been established. Larger, longitudinal studies on the safety of medical cannabis in older adults are needed.

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