Daily Cannabis Use Patterns
Frequent cannabis use is more common among people in mid-life, individuals out of work, and those who also smoke tobacco, according to new research published in the journal Addiction.
Experts from King’s College London, the University of Bath, and Action on Smoking and Health analyzed consumption frequency to understand public health implications.
Daily cannabis use occurs more often in specific age groups
Those aged 25 to 34 and over-55s were more likely to report daily use compared with younger adults. The findings challenge common assumptions that frequent cannabis consumption is strictly a youth phenomenon.
How often people use cannabis matters as much as whether they use it at all, because using every day or nearly every day carries a greater risk of physical and mental health harms,
Dr Hannah Walsh, research associate at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London, said.
Frequent cannabis use often overlaps with tobacco consumption
The study indicates that frequent consumption patterns frequently overlap with tobacco use. Researchers suggest that targeted support systems could benefit from combining employment and stop-smoking services.
Knowing whether someone uses cannabis or not only tells part of the story, because someone who uses cannabis once or twice a year is very different from someone who uses it every day,
Dr Elle Wadsworth, co-lead author from the University of Bath, stated.
Targeted Support Services
Public health charity Ash notes that mixing cannabis with tobacco carries distinct health risks and complicates nicotine cessation. Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of Ash, called for integrated drug treatment and tobacco cessation programs.
Stop-smoking services have an opportunity to identify and support people who also use cannabis, and drug treatment services should talk to people about their tobacco use,
Cheeseman said.
Which age groups and factors affect cannabis use?
Which age groups report the highest daily cannabis use?
Adults aged 25 to 34 and individuals over 55 report daily use at higher rates than younger demographics.
Where was the cannabis consumption study published?
The research findings were published in the academic journal Addiction by authors from King’s College London, the University of Bath, and Ash.
How does tobacco use factor into the findings?
Researchers found that frequent cannabis use is more prevalent among individuals who also smoke tobacco, often complicating efforts to quit nicotine.
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