United States
Cannabis and substance use frequency among United States young adults with disabilities
Researchers analysed survey data from 3,458 young American adults to compare substance consumption patterns between disabled and non-disabled individuals. The study found that disabled participants had significantly higher odds of frequent cannabis use, tobacco use, and non-prescribed stimulant or opioid consumption. However, the reliance on a self-reported, internet-based purposive sample limits the generalisability of these findings.
- Disabled young adults showed 1.44 times higher odds of more frequent cannabis use than non-disabled peers.
- Having multiple disability subtypes correlated with an increased likelihood of using almost all studied substances.
- Non-medical use of stimulants and opioids was three times more common among participants with disabilities.
- 30.2 per cent of participants reported at least one disability.
- Past 30-day use was reported by 40.5 per cent for cannabis, 37.8 per cent for tobacco and 33.1 per cent for binge drinking.
Our view
Handling medical cannabis requires an accurate picture of how it is actually used. That young adults with disabilities had 1.44 times the odds of frequent cannabis use, and three times the rate of non-medical stimulant and opioid use, suggests a group that support is not reaching. The sample was self-reported, internet-based and purposive, and does not represent US young adults as a whole. Use within a medical framework and use outside one need to be discussed separately.
Sources
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