Kendall Browne1, Yani Leyva2, Carol A Malte3, Gwen T Lapham4, Quyen Q Tiet5. 1. Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center. 2. Homeless Veterans Rehabilitation Program (HVRP), Domiciliary Service, VA Palo Alto Health Care System. 3. Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education, VA Puget Sound Health Care System. 4. Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute. 5. Dissemination and Training Division, National Center for PTSD, VA Palo Alto Health Care System.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study examined past-year cannabis use prevalence and sociodemographic and clinical correlates of cannabis use among Veterans Health Administration (VHA) primary care patients in a state with legalized medical cannabis. METHOD: Participants were 1,072 predominantly white, male, VHA primary care patients enrolled in a drug screening validation study (2012-2014). Sociodemographic and clinical correlates were examined by past-year cannabis use status. Multivariate regression models, adjusted for demographics, estimated cannabis use prevalence and clinical correlates among recreational, medical, and both medical and recreational users. RESULTS: Nearly one in five (18.7%) veterans endorsed past-year cannabis use, with 14.1% of the total sample reporting any recreational use and 7.0% reporting any medical use. Correlates of any past-year use included younger age, period of service, being unmarried, lower education, lower income, other substance use, meeting criteria for an alcohol or drug use disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder, higher pain rating, and lower self-reported well-being. Compared to veterans endorsing only recreational use, veterans endorsing only medical use reported more cannabis use days but had lower odds of other drug use, alcohol or drug-related problems, or alcohol or drug use disorders. Differences between recreational only users and those using medical and recreational cannabis were minimal. CONCLUSIONS: Veterans enrolled in VHA in states with legalized cannabis may be particularly likely to use cannabis. Veterans identifying as recreational users may be at increased risk for adverse clinical outcomes compared to medical-only users. Prevalence monitoring, assessment, and intervention services should be considered, particularly in states with legalized cannabis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
OBJECTIVE: This study examined past-year cannabis use prevalence and sociodemographic and clinical correlates of cannabis use among Veterans Health Administration (VHA) primary care patients in a state with legalized medical cannabis. METHOD: Participants were 1,072 predominantly white, male, VHA primary care patients enrolled in a drug screening validation study (2012-2014). Sociodemographic and clinical correlates were examined by past-year cannabis use status. Multivariate regression models, adjusted for demographics, estimated cannabis use prevalence and clinical correlates among recreational, medical, and both medical and recreational users. RESULTS: Nearly one in five (18.7%) veterans endorsed past-year cannabis use, with 14.1% of the total sample reporting any recreational use and 7.0% reporting any medical use. Correlates of any past-year use included younger age, period of service, being unmarried, lower education, lower income, other substance use, meeting criteria for an alcohol or drug use disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder, higher pain rating, and lower self-reported well-being. Compared to veterans endorsing only recreational use, veterans endorsing only medical use reported more cannabis use days but had lower odds of other drug use, alcohol or drug-related problems, or alcohol or drug use disorders. Differences between recreational only users and those using medical and recreational cannabis were minimal. CONCLUSIONS: Veterans enrolled in VHA in states with legalized cannabis may be particularly likely to use cannabis. Veterans identifying as recreational users may be at increased risk for adverse clinical outcomes compared to medical-only users. Prevalence monitoring, assessment, and intervention services should be considered, particularly in states with legalized cannabis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
Authors: Gwen T Lapham; Theresa E Matson; David S Carrell; Jennifer F Bobb; Casey Luce; Malia M Oliver; Udi E Ghitza; Clarissa Hsu; Kendall C Browne; Ingrid A Binswanger; Cynthia I Campbell; Andrew J Saxon; Ryan Vandrey; Gillian L Schauer; Rosalie Liccardo Pacula; Michael A Horberg; Steffani R Bailey; Erin A McClure; Katharine A Bradley Journal: JAMA Netw Open Date: 2022-05-02