A recent study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports reveals a rise in cannabis use among U.S. adults but not among teenagers.
Analyzing data from over 500,000 individuals between 2013 and 2022, the research highlights increased cannabis consumption among Americans with incomes above $75,000 and those with college degrees.
Delvon Mattingly, a behavioral science professor at the University of Kentucky and lead author, noted that while the overall trend shows rising cannabis use among higher-income and more educated individuals, teenage use has remained stable.
Result was not as expected
The study examined usage trends by age, gender, race, ethnicity, education, and income.
Mattingly expressed surprise that teen cannabis use did not increase, contrary to expectations.
He suggested that more detailed data might reveal changes within specific age groups, such as middle vs. high school students.
Recent CDC data indicates a decrease in high school cannabis use from 23% in 2013 to 17% in 2023, which might be attributed to stricter regulations and increased parental supervision during the pandemic.
Might be linked to the pandemic in 2020
Jordan Gette, a postdoctoral fellow at Rutgers, pointed out that pandemic-related factors likely influenced substance use trends. She noted that reductions in alcohol and vaping among teens since 2020 suggest a broader decline in illicit substance use rather than a direct result of cannabis legalization.
The study also found that cannabis use is highest among non-Hispanic multiracial individuals, with over 25% using cannabis in 2022. Mattingly emphasized the need for more research on this growing demographic.
