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Primary Submission Category: Mental health/function
Cannabis use trajectories and mental health among US Adults
Authors: Celina Morales,
Presenting Author: Celina Morales*
Introduction: In the United States, cannabis is becoming more readily accessible due to recent legislative changes. However, cannabis is associated with adverse mental health outcomes, posing a significant public health concern. More longitudinal research is needed to examine cannabis use trajectories over time and associated mental health trends. In this study, we first examine past-year cannabis use trajectories across four consecutive waves to understand longitudinal patterns of use. We then determined whether adults with high cannabis use were more likely to have lower mental health scores over time than adults with low or no cannabis use.
Method: We use data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health, a national longitudinal project that measures substance use at yearly intervals. We used four consecutive years of data. Cannabis use was measured as any past-year use. Mental health was measured using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System scale. We employed group-based trajectory modeling to classify cannabis use trends, and conducted a generalized estimating equation analysis to examine the relationship between the cannabis use trajectories and mental health over time.
Result: Two trajectory groups were identified: a low/no-use group (76%) and a high/increasing group (24%). Compared with the low and no use group, the high and increasing use group had significantly lower mental health scores ( = -3.24; 95% CI -3.57, -2.91; p <.001), and mental health scores remained constant over time.
Conclusion: Our study describes the cannabis use profiles of the general adult population in the US. Consistent cannabis use across years is linked with poorer mental health over time. These findings may be used by practitioners to identify adults at a high risk of poor mental health and provide guidance when needed. The rapidly accessible cannabis environment may increase the risk of poor mental health among adults who may use it.