Sociodemographic factors impact veterans’ risk for cannabis use disorder

Vulnerable subgroups of veterans had increased risk for cannabis use disorder and nonmedical use, according to results of a survey study published in American Journal of Psychiatry.

“Given growing legalization and acceptability of cannabis use, nationally representative data are needed to understand cannabis use among veterans, including frequent use patterns (eg, daily use) and cannabis use disorder, and to identify high-risk subgroups,” Kendall C. Browne, PhD, of the Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Pennsylvania, and colleagues wrote.

“In civilian samples, frequent cannabis use and cannabis use disorder are associated with other substance and psychiatric disorders — for example, PTSD and anxiety and mood disorders — and may worsen their outcomes,” they continued. “Such disorders are overrepresented among veterans.”

The researchers aimed to evaluate veterans’ prevalence of past-year and lifetime cannabis use, frequent use and cannabis use disorder; related demographic, substance use disorder and psychiatric disorder factors that affect these outcomes; and the role state medical marijuana laws may play in differences in cannabis use and use disorder prevalence. They analyzed data of 3,119 U.S. veterans who responded to the 2012 to 2013 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III. Browne and colleagues calculated weighted prevalence estimates. Further, they used logistic regression analyses to test correlations of nonmedical cannabis use and cannabis use disorder with demographic and clinical factors and assessed whether prevalence differed based on state legalization status.

Results showed respective prevalence estimates for past-year cannabis use and cannabis use disorder of 7.3% and 1.8%, as well as respective lifetime prevalence estimates of 32.5% and 5.7%. Nonmedical cannabis users had past-year and lifetime cannabis use disorder prevalence estimates of 24.4% and 17.4%, respectively. Younger age, male gender, being unmarried, lower income and residing in a state with medical marijuana laws served as sociodemographic correlates of nonmedical cannabis use and use disorder. Browne and colleagues noted an association between nonmedical cannabis use and most assessed psychiatric and substance use disorders.

“Such findings highlight the importance of continued research examining the impact of changing marijuana laws on our nation’s veterans,” the researchers wrote. “These findings are also important to communicate to policy makers, to health care professionals who may need to consider cannabis screening and intervention services when caring for veterans, and to veterans themselves so they can be well-informed about potential risks and benefits of cannabis use.”