Older marijuana users’ marijuana risk perceptions: associations with marijuana use patterns and marijuana and other substance use disorders

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. 1311-1322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Namkee G. Choi ◽  
Diana M. DiNitto ◽  
C. Nathan Marti

ABSTRACTBackground:Compared to their non-using age peers, older marijuana users are known to have lower marijuana risk perceptions. We examined associations of older marijuana users’ risk perceptions with their marijuana use patterns and substance use disorders.Methods:Data are from 2013 to 2015 National Survey of Drug Use and Health (N = 24,057 respondents aged 50+ years). Bivariate logistic regression was used to compare risk perceptions among never users, former users, and past-year users aged 50+ years. Multivariable logistic regression was used to test associations between risk perception and marijuana use status and between risk perception and marijuana use patterns.Results:Among the total sample, former (AOR = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.27–0.32) and past-year (AOR = 0.05, 95% CI = 0.04–0.06) marijuana users had significantly lower odds of moderate/great risk perception (as opposed to no/slight risk perception) than never users. Among past-year users, odds of moderate/great risk perception were lower among those who used marijuana more frequently (AOR = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.07–0.28 for 300+ days of use compared to 1–11 days of use) and who reported any medical marijuana use (AOR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.14–0.51). However, those who had marijuana use disorder were 3.5 times more likely to report moderate/great risk perception (AOR = 3.50, 95% CI = 1.62–7.58). Those who had a college education, had higher incomes, and resided in states with medical marijuana laws also had lower risk perceptions.Conclusions:Public health education on scientific evidence about marijuana's benefits and harms and age-appropriate treatment for older adults with substance use problems are needed. Research on risk perception formation using longitudinal data among older adults is also needed.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian A Betancourt ◽  
Panagiota Kitsantas ◽  
Deborah G Goldberg ◽  
Beth A Hawks

ABSTRACT Introduction Military veterans continue to struggle with addiction even after receiving treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs). Identifying factors that may influence SUD relapse upon receiving treatment in veteran populations is crucial for intervention and prevention efforts. The purpose of this study was to examine risk factors that contribute to SUD relapse upon treatment completion in a sample of U.S. veterans using logistic regression and classification tree analysis. Materials and Methods Data from the 2017 Treatment Episode Data Set—Discharge (TEDS-D) included 40,909 veteran episode observations. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analysis were conducted to determine factors associated with SUD relapse after treatment discharge. Classification trees were constructed to identify high-risk subgroups for substance use after discharge from treatment for SUDs. Results Approximately 94% of the veterans relapsed upon discharge from outpatient or residential SUD treatment. Veterans aged 18-34 years old were significantly less likely to relapse than the 35-64 age group (odds ratio [OR] 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.66, 0.82), while males were more likely than females to relapse (OR 1.55, 95% CI: 1.34, 1.79). Unemployed veterans (OR 1.92, 95% CI: 1.67, 2.22) or veterans not in the labor force (OR 1.29, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.47) were more likely to relapse than employed veterans. Homeless vs. independently housed veterans had 3.26 (95% CI: 2.55, 4.17) higher odds of relapse after treatment. Veterans with one arrest vs. none were more likely to relapse (OR 1.52, 95% CI: 1.19, 1.95). Treatment completion was critical to maintain sobriety, as every other type of discharge led to more than double the odds of relapse. Veterans who received care at 24-hour detox facilities were 1.49 (95% CI: 1.23, 1.80) times more likely to relapse than those at rehabilitative/residential treatment facilities. Classification tree analysis indicated that homelessness upon discharge was the most important predictor in SUD relapse among veterans. Conclusion Aside from numerous challenges that veterans face after leaving military service, SUD relapse is intensified by risk factors such as homelessness, unemployment, and insufficient SUD treatment. As treatment and preventive care for SUD relapse is an active field of study, further research on SUD relapse among homeless veterans is necessary to better understand the epidemiology of substance addiction among this vulnerable population. The findings of this study can inform healthcare policy and practices targeting veteran-tailored treatment programs to improve SUD treatment completion and lower substance use after treatment.


2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (11) ◽  
pp. 2317-2323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ethan Sahker ◽  
Susan K. Schultz ◽  
Stephan Arndt

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1034-1037
Author(s):  
Desiree R. Azizoddin ◽  
Andrea C. Enzinger ◽  
Alexi A. Wright ◽  
Miryam Yusufov ◽  
James A. Tulsky ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (12) ◽  
pp. 1687-1707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Namkee G. Choi ◽  
Diana M. DiNitto ◽  
C. Nathan Marti

Despite increasing marijuana use among the 50+ age group, little research has been done on marijuana’s impact on older adults’ driving under the influence (DUI). Using the 2013 to 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data, this study examined the association of older adults’ self-reported DUI with marijuana use, marijuana abuse/dependence, and marijuana risk perception. The findings show that one third of past-year marijuana users aged 50+ reported past-year DUI, two thirds of which involved drugs. Those with marijuana abuse/dependence were 2.6 times more likely than those without the disorder to report DUI, controlling for alcohol abuse/dependence, other illicit drug use, and sociodemographic and health/mental health statuses. As safe driving is key to prolonging independence in late life, clinicians need to educate older adults about the risk of marijuana use, alone and with other substances, on their driving capacity and provide age-appropriate treatment for marijuana use disorder.


2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 859-863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Briscoe ◽  
David Casarett

Author(s):  
Michael Burgard ◽  
Robert Kohn

Substance use disorders in older adults remains lower than in younger adults; however, the prevalence is rising in the elderly population. In the United States, the lifetime prevalence of an alcohol use disorder among persons age 65 and older is 16.1%. Studies of Veteran’s Administration nursing home residents have found that 29% to 49% of those admitted have a lifetime diagnosis of alcohol use disorder. A sizable proportion of the elderly acknowledge driving under the influence. In 2013, 1.5% of the elderly had used illicit drugs. The number requiring treatment for substance abuse is expected to double by 2020. The populations with the fastest increase in opiate mortality are those age 55 and older, including those 65 and older. This chapter presents the epidemiology of substance use among older adults and discusses issues related to elders’ substance use, including use in nursing homes, impaired driving and arrests, use of non-prescription medications, screening for substance use, and treatment.


AIDS ◽  
2004 ◽  
pp. 43-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith G Rabkin ◽  
Martin C McElhiney ◽  
Stephen J Ferrando

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