Date: 08-19-2020
A new report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA Network) examined the changes in marijuana use rates in adults with depression from 2005 to 2016. The study, “Association of Depression With Past-Month Cannabis Use Among US Adults, Aged 20 to 59 years, 2005 to 2016” (Gorfinkel, Stohl and Hasin) looked at over 16,000 people, depression and odd ratios of marijuana use on a monthly and on a near daily basis.
When compared to individuals free of depression, those with depression issues had higher odds of marijuana usage monthly (1.9 OR) and near daily use (2.2 OR). Since 2005, those suffering from depression and admitted use of marijuana in last 30 days has increased by 57 percent. For individuals dealing with depression and using marijuana on a daily or near daily basis, that number jumps to over 130 percent since 2005. The authors clearly note that, “… individuals with depression are at increasing risk of cannabis use, with a particularly strong increase in daily or near-daily cannabis use.” The authors cite the need for additional research into this area and offer a warning to treatment professionals to be aware of this trend of increased marijuana use among individuals battling depression.
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