A brand new research, revealed within the Hashish and Cannabinoids Analysis journal, discovered extra older Individuals are utilizing hashish at present than earlier than the pandemic. In keeping with researchers with the College of Michigan’s Institute for Healthcare Coverage and Innovation, roughly 1 in 8 Individuals over 50 at present use the substance.
“Because the stress of the pandemic and the elevated legalization of hashish by states converged, our findings recommend hashish use elevated amongst older adults nationally,” habit psychologist and research lead Anne Fernandez advised the College of Michigan.
“Older adults characterize a susceptible age group for hashish use on account of interactions with drugs, dangerous driving, cannabis-related psychological well being impacts and elevated risk of falls and reminiscence points.”
To find out what number of older adults are at present utilizing hashish, in comparison with years handed, researchers analyzed information from the Nationwide Ballot on Wholesome Growing older, a ballot funded by AARP and Michigan Drugs.
The ballot was taken in January 2021 and featured 2,023 older adults. Whereas roughly 12% of older adults within the research stated they used hashish inside the previous 12 months, solely 9.5% used the substance in 2019.
“Different analysis has proven that utilizing each alcohol and hashish will increase the possibility that an individual will drive whereas impaired,” Fernandez stated. “They’re additionally extra prone to have bodily and psychological well being points, together with substance use problems. Screening for alcohol use, hashish use, and different drug use might assist extra individuals get counseling and cut back their threat and threat to others.”
Amongst those that stated they’ve used hashish inside the previous 12 months, 34% stated they used the substance 4 or extra days every week.
Some older adults had been additionally discovered to be extra seemingly to make use of hashish than others. Those that consumed alcohol had been discovered to be extra seemingly to make use of the substance, in addition to single/unpartnered and unemployed respondents.
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