The Increasing Use of Cannabis Among Older Americans: A Public Health Crisis or Viable Policy Alternative?

Brian Kaskie; Padmaja Ayyagari; Gary Milavetz; Dan Shane; Kanika Arora

doi:10.1093/geront/gnw166

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The Increasing Use of Cannabis Among Older Americans: A Public Health Crisis or Viable Policy Alternative?

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

The Increasing Use of Cannabis Among Older Americans: A Public Health Crisis or Viable Policy Alternative?

Brian Kaskie, Padmaja Ayyagari, Gary Milavetz, Dan Shane and Kanika Arora

The Gerontologist, Vol.57(6), pp.1166-1172

11/10/2017

DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnw166

PMID: 28077451

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Abstract

Cannabis use among older Americans is increasing. Although much of this growth has been attributed to the entry of a more tolerant baby boom cohort into older age, recent evidence suggests the pathways to cannabis are more complex. Some older persons have responded to changing social and legal environments and are increasingly likely to take cannabis recreationally. Other older persons are experiencing age-related health care needs, and some take cannabis for symptom management, as recommended by a medical doctor. Whether these pathways to recreational and medical cannabis are separate or somewhat tangled remains largely unknown. There have been few studies examining cannabis use among the growing population of Americans aged 65 and older. In this essay, we illuminate what is known about the intersection between cannabis and the aging American population. We review trends concerning cannabis use and apply the age-period-cohort paradigm to explicate varied pathways and outcomes. Then, after considering the public health problems posed by those who misuse or abuse cannabis, we turn our attention to how cannabis may be a viable policy alternative in terms of supporting the health and well-being of a substantial number of aging Americans. On the one hand, cannabis may be an effective substitute for prescription opioids and other misused medications; on the other hand, cannabis has emerged as an alternative for the undertreatment of pain at the end of life. As intriguing as these alternatives may be, policy makers must first address the need for empirically driven, representative research to advance the discourse.

United States - epidemiology

Marijuana Abuse - prevention & control

Marijuana Use - psychology

Marijuana Abuse - psychology

Humans

Middle Aged

Pain Management - methods

Male

Marijuana Abuse - etiology

Public Health - methods

Drug Misuse

Drug Prescriptions

Complementary Therapies - methods

Public Health - statistics & numerical data

Social Problems - prevention & control

Marijuana Use - epidemiology

Female

Aged

Public Health - legislation & jurisprudence

Health Policy

Social Problems - psychology

Marijuana Abuse - epidemiology

Details

Title: Subtitle: The Increasing Use of Cannabis Among Older Americans: A Public Health Crisis or Viable Policy Alternative?
Creators: Brian Kaskie - Department of Health Management and Policy, College of Public Health, University of Iowa
Padmaja Ayyagari - Department of Health Management and Policy, College of Public Health, University of Iowa
Gary Milavetz - Department of Health Management and Policy, College of Public Health, University of Iowa
Dan Shane - Department of Health Management and Policy, College of Public Health, University of Iowa
Kanika Arora - Department of Health Management and Policy, College of Public Health, University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The Gerontologist, Vol.57(6), pp.1166-1172
DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnw166
PMID: 28077451
NLM abbreviation: Gerontologist
ISSN: 0016-9013
eISSN: 1758-5341
Publisher: United States
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100008893, name: University of Iowa
Language: English
Date published: 11/10/2017
Academic Unit: Pharmacy; Health Management and Policy; Economics; Pharmacy Practice and Science; Public Policy Center (Archive)
Record Identifier: 9984063202902771

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