Cannabis Use Disorder Rising Among Adults

A recent study highlights a rising prevalence of cannabis use disorder (CUD) among adults in the United States between 2021 and 2024, while alcohol use disorder (AUD) remained unchanged. Among the 186,823 participants, the past-year CUD prevalence climbed among both men (7.3% to 9.3%) and women (4.5% to 5.6%). Notably, moderate-to-severe CUD increased among men (3.1% to 4.1%) and women (1.7% to 2.5%), particularly in those aged 35-49 and 50 and older.

For women, this trend was especially pronounced in the age groups of 21-34, 35-49, and 50 and older. Similarly, in AUD, the prevalence increased among men, except for those aged 21-34, where a decline was observed. Conversely, AUD remained stable among women across all age groups. The study emphasizes the need for robust public health strategies targeting both CUD and its severe forms across all demographic groups.

The findings challenge the perception that cannabis has low addictive potential and suggest a potential trend where younger adults are gravitating towards cannabis over alcohol due to perceived lower harm. This shift is underscored by data indicating that CUD prevalence surpassed AUD among adults aged 18-20, with 51-61% of this group having moderate-to-severe CUD in 2024.