Adverse Childhood Experiences and Cannabis Use Among US Adults: Do Poor Health and Disability Influence Types of Cannabis Use?

Background: Research suggests that individuals who experience four or more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have increased rates of cannabis use. However, most prior research does not separate recreational and medical usage. Medical cannabis is used legally in many states to treat a variety of health conditions, many of which are also associated with ACEs. Objectives: Therefore, we explore the extent to which medical cannabis users differ from recreational cannabis users and whether medical use is associated with ACEs, poor health, or disability. Accordingly, we ask the following questions: Are ACEs associated with any cannabis use when controlling for measures of poor health and disability? Are ACEs associated with medical cannabis use? Are associations between ACEs and medical cannabis use explained by poor health and/or disability? Results: Using 2019 BRFSS data, we find that ACEs are significantly associated with cannabis use, but that disability and poor health fully account for the effect of ACEs on medical cannabis use. Conclusions: We conclude that practitioners screen for ACEs and disability status when prescribing medical cannabis.

Duke Scholars

Author Helen Milojevich