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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Marijuana use among older adults in the U.S.A.
— user characteristics, patterns of use, and implications for intervention | | Author(s) | Diana M DiNitto, Namkee G Choi |
| Journal title | International Psychogeriatrics, vol 23, no 5, June 2011 |
| Pages | pp 732-741 |
| Source | http://www.journals.cambridge.org/ipg |
| Keywords | Drug taking ; 65-69 age group ; Young elderly ; Middle aged ; United States of America. |
| Annotation | Epidemiological studies show that the number of older adults using marijuana is increasing. This study aimed to determine the correlates and patterns of marijuana use among older adults that might help health and social service providers better assist this group. The study used data from the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health conducted by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The sample consisted of 5,325 adults aged 50 years and older. Of the sample, 2.8% were past-year marijuana users. Of these, 23% had used marijuana on at least half the days of the year. Past-year users were more likely to be younger (50-64 years old), black and unmarried. This group had significantly higher psychological distress scores compared with other users, however they did not rate their health as poorer than others in the sample, nor did they attribute many psychological problems as being related to their marijuana use. Nevertheless past-year users presented a high-risk profile because in addition to frequent marijuana use, they were also more likely to smoke cigarettes, engage in binge drinking, and use other illicit drugs. Concludes that health and social service providers should be alert to the small number of routine marijuana users among the younger members of the older adult population, especially those suffering significant psychological distress. (JL). |
| Accession Number | CPA-110913005 A |
| Classmark | ETD: BBE: BBA: SE: 7T |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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