Study finds increase in weed-related visits to emergency departments among older adults

A new study by researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine has shown a dramatic increase in emergency room visits related to cannabis use among older adults. The study, published Monday by the peer-reviewed Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, found a 1,808% increase in marijuana-related trips to the emergency room among California adults age 65 and older between 2005 and 2019.

Benjamin Han, MD, the study’s lead author and a geriatrician in the Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Care in the Department of Medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine, said the dramatic increase in emergency room visits is related to cannabis use among older adults is a concern for many physicians in his field. In an interview with UC San Diego Today, he noted that the increase is significant because older adults are at greater risk of side effects associated with cannabis and other psychoactive substances.

“Many patients assume that they won’t experience any adverse side effects from cannabis because they often don’t take it as seriously as they would a prescription drug,” Han said. “I see a lot of older adults who are overly confident and say they know how to handle it – yet as they get older their bodies are more sensitive and the levels are very different than what they might have been trying to do when they were.” they were younger.”

The study, funded in part by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, was conducted using a trend analysis of data sourced from the California Department of Healthcare Access and Information. Researchers found that the number of cannabis-related emergency room visits among California adults age 65 and older jumped from 366 in 2005 to 12,167 in 2019. Medical marijuana was legalized in California in 1996, and regulated adult-use cannabis sales began in the state on January 1, 2018, following state voters legalizing recreational marijuana in 2016. The study found that the number of emergency room visits increased sharply between 2013 and 2017 but then leveled off, suggesting that the availability of recreational marijuana did not increase the risk of an emergency room visit.

Cannabis use is increasing among older Americans with legalization

Over the past two decades, use of cannabis by older adults has increased significantly as efforts to legalize marijuana in the United States have gained ground. Older Americans are increasingly using cannabis socially and for a variety of health conditions, leading to a decrease in the perceived risk of regular marijuana use.

The researchers say the new study shows that cannabis use can lead to unintended consequences in older adults who may need emergency medical care for a variety of reasons. Cannabis use can slow down reaction time or impair alertness, which can increase the risk of injury or falls. There is also evidence that cannabis may increase the risk of delirium, paranoia, or psychosis, and that marijuana use may interact with prescription drugs or worsen pulmonary or cardiovascular problems.

“We know from working with alcohol that older adults are more likely to make a change in substance use when they see it linked to an adverse medical symptom or outcome – so a similar association with cannabis use could help in behavior change,” Alison said Moore, MD, study co-author and director of the Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Care at the UC San Diego School of Medicine’s Medical School. “With all the new forms and combinations of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), we really have a lot to learn about cannabis and this will also improve our understanding of the risks and possible benefits.”

The study highlights the need for older Americans to have honest conversations about their cannabis use with their healthcare provider. Moore says such talks should be an element of routine medical care, but screening protocols often involve use of cannabis along with use of illicit drugs.

“Instead, ask a question like, ‘In the last 12 months, have you used cannabis — aka marijuana — for any reason?’ would encourage older adults to respond more openly,” Moore said. “Providers can then ask how often cannabis is used, for what purpose — such as medicinally for pain, sleep or anxiety, or recreationally for relaxation — in what form (smoked, eaten, applied topically), and if they know how much THC and CBD it contains. Once the provider has this type of information, they can educate patients about potential risks of use.”

Han agreed that patients should discuss their cannabis with their doctors before deciding to use it medicinally.

“Although cannabis can be helpful for some chronic symptoms, it’s important to weigh this potential benefit against the risk, including ending up in an emergency room,” he said.