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Cannabis use has reached a new high among older adults in the United States, with 7% of those aged 65 and over reporting use in the past month. This is according to an analysis led by researchers at the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research (CDUHR) at the NYU School of Global Public Health.

The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, reveals that the profile of cannabis users has shifted in recent years. Specifically, there have been pronounced increases in use among older adults who are college-educated, married, female, and have higher incomes.

“Our study shows that cannabis use among older adults continues to increase, although there have been major shifts in use according to demographic and socioeconomic factors,” said Joseph Palamar, PhD, MPH, an associate professor of population health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and the study’s senior author.

Most Americans live in a state where marijuana has been legalized for medical or recreational use. To better understand the prevalence of cannabis use among older adults in the US, researchers examined data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2021 through 2023. The respondents were asked about past-month cannabis use, which was defined as “current” use.

The researchers found that current cannabis use among older adults grew to 7% in 2023, up from 4.8% in 2021 and 5.2% in 2022—a nearly 46% increase in only two years.

“If we look even further back to 2006 and 2007, less than 1% of older adults used cannabis in the past year. Now, we’re seeing that 7% have used it in the past month alone,” said Benjamin Han, MD, MPH, associate professor and associate chief of research in the Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Care at the University of California San Diego and the study’s first author.

The researchers also found significant increases in cannabis use among older adults with chronic diseases—specifically, those with multiple chronic conditions. Notably, this includes heart issues, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and chronic pulmonary obstructive disease.

The authors caution that the overall increases may be driven, in part, by those who use cannabis aging into the 65+ age bracket for the period studied. Regardless, they recommend that clinicians screen and educate their older patients about cannabis use, including how physiological changes that accompany aging can make people more sensitive to psychoactive substances.

“As a geriatrician, I see more and more people interested in using cannabis for treating chronic health symptoms. But cannabis can complicate the management of chronic diseases and be potentially harmful if patients are not educated on its use and potential risks,” said Han.

The research was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (K23DA043651, R21DA058404, R21DA060362, R01DA057289, R01DA060207, and P30DA01104) and the UC San Diego Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging.

The Pressure to Conform: How Peer Norms Drive Risky Behavior in Young Adults

Growing up in close-knit communities can be beneficial, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. For Joshua Awua, a postdoctoral research associate at The University of Texas at Arlington’s School of Social Work, the strong social bonds he experienced in Ghana often led to pressure to conform – including drinking.

“Social connection was everything,” Dr. Awua recalled, “and sometimes that came with pressure to fit in, including drinking.” This experience has now fueled his research on how social influences, particularly peer pressure, impact substance use and misuse among young adults.

Dr. Awua recently co-published a study titled “Perceived Norms and Alcohol-Related Consequences: The Moderated Mediation Roles of Protective Behavioral Strategies and Alcohol Consumption” in the journal Substance Use & Misuse. The study explores how college students’ misperceptions about their peers’ drinking habits can lead to heavy episodic drinking and negative consequences.

The research found that young adults often misjudge their peers’ alcohol consumption, believing they’re drinking more than they actually are. This misperception can lead to feelings of pressure to keep up, resulting in risky behaviors like binge drinking. To address these misperceptions, the study suggests using protective behavioral strategies (PBS), such as:

* Drinking slowly
* Avoiding drinking games
* Monitoring one’s own drinking

These simple yet effective techniques can help young adults stay in control and reduce the influence of perceived norms.

The consequences of binge drinking and other substance-related harm can be severe, with estimated 1,519 college students dying each year from alcohol-related unintentional injuries. By using protective behavioral strategies, young adults can reduce their risk of experiencing these negative consequences.

As Dr. Awua emphasized, “What the evidence shows, and what our study confirmed, is that once students begin to use these strategies, they reduce the risk of experiencing negative consequences like drunk driving.” Ultimately, by supporting their own health and well-being, young adults can lower the overall rates of substance-related harm.

A groundbreaking drug developed at Duke University School of Medicine may revolutionize the way we treat pain without relying on opioids’ potentially devastating side effects. SBI-810, a non-opioid treatment, has shown remarkable promise in preliminary studies by targeting a specific receptor that regulates pain relief pathways. This novel approach avoids the euphoric “high” associated with addiction and may offer a safer alternative for both short-term and chronic pain management.

According to researchers, SBI-810’s unique mechanism of action involves activating a specific signal linked to pain relief while avoiding other signals that can cause side effects or addiction. By targeting the neurotensin receptor 1, this compound effectively relieved pain from various conditions, including surgical incisions, bone fractures, and nerve injuries, often outperforming existing painkillers.

One of the most exciting aspects of SBI-810 is its ability to prevent tolerance buildup, which forces patients to need stronger and more frequent doses of opioids over time. This breakthrough has significant implications for those recovering from surgery or living with diabetic nerve pain, as it may provide a safer option for managing their pain without the risks associated with long-term opioid use.

The study, published in Cell, was supported by the NIH and the Department of Defense. While SBI-810 is still in early development, researchers are aiming to move forward with human trials soon, with multiple patents locked in for this groundbreaking discovery. As the world grapples with the ongoing opioid crisis, innovative solutions like SBI-810 offer a beacon of hope for those seeking relief from pain without compromising their well-being.