Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of the changes in marijuana use in the USA, 2005–2018

Abstract

ObjectivesUnderstanding trends of marijuana use in the USA throughout a period of particularly high adoption of marijuana-legalisation, and understanding demographics most at risk of use, is important in evolving healthcare policy and intervention. This study analyses the demographic-specific changes in the prevalence of marijuana use in the USA between 2005 and 2018.Design, setting and participantsA 14-year retrospective cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database, a publicly available biennially collected national survey, weighted to represent the entire US population. A total of 35 212 adults between 18 and 69 years old participated in the seven-cycles of surveys analysed (2005–2018).Primary outcome measuredLifetime use, first use before 18 years old, and past-year use of marijuana.ResultsThe majority of adults reported ever using marijuana. While the overall prevalence of lifetime marijuana use remained stable (p=0.53), past-year use increased significantly between 2005 and 2018 (p<0.001) with highest rate of past-year use among younger age groups (p<0.001), males (p<0.001) and those with income below poverty level (p<0.001). Past-year use was the most common among non-Hispanic blacks, and less common among Hispanic/Mexican populations (p<0.002). Trends in past-year use increased among all age categories, males/females, all ethnicities, those with high school education/above, and those at all income levels (p<0.01 for all).ConclusionsWhile lifetime marijuana use remained stable, past-year use significantly increased between 2005 and 2018. While past-year use remained the most common in younger age groups, males, non-Hispanic blacks and those with lower income; increasing trends in past-year use were significant for all age, sex, race and income categories, and for those with high school education/above. With high adoption of marijuana-legalisation laws during this period, our results suggest an associated increase in past-year marijuana use.An accurate understanding of those most at risk can help to inform decisions of healthcare policy-makers and professionals, and facilitate a safe transition of changing marijuana legalisation and use in the USA.

Influence of the Interaction Between Depressive Symptoms and Sleep Disorders on Cardiovascular Diseases Occurrence

“…11 The information collected was designed to assess the incidence of major diseases and disease risk factors to promote health and prevent diseases. 12 Participants who did not have depression questionnaire data or sleep disorder data, or lack other information were excluded. This study did not need to be approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College because the data was accessed from the NHANES (a publicly available database).…”

Effect of the Interaction between Depression and Sleep Disorders on the Stroke Occurrence: An Analysis Based on National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey

“…NHANES was conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, aiming at assessing the health status of the US population [ 18 ]. The interviews were performed by the study teams which were composed of medical and health technicians, multilingual physicians, and dietary health interviewers, and the information collected was designed to evaluate the incidence of major diseases and risk factors for diseases to promote health and prevent diseases [ 19 ].…”

“…As a short, self-administered questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) is widely employed to screen depression in primary care settings [20]. Regarding the severity, depression was classified into five categories based on total PHQ-9 scores, including no depressive symptoms (0-4), mild depressive symptoms (5)(6)(7)(8)(9), moderate depressive symptoms (10)(11)(12)(13)(14), moderately severe depressive symptoms (15)(16)(17)(18)(19), and severe depressive symptoms (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27) [21]. In this study, depression was defined when the total PHQ-9 scores were equal to or greater than 10 [22].…”

Association between serum Chlamydia trachomatis antibody levels and infertility among reproductive-aged women in the U.S.

“…Poverty has been demonstrated to substantially increase the risk of infertility in many aspects: limited access to health services and nutrition increases susceptibility to genital infection ( 52 ). Moreover, a recent study based on 2005 to 2018 NHANES data reported that the prevalence of past-year marijuana use significantly increased among those with income below the poverty level ( 53 ). Marijuana use and poverty promote each other and may impair health and fertility.…”