San Diego, CA: Middle-aged women frequently acknowledge using cannabis products in place of prescription medications to manage their anxiety and/or depression, according to survey data published in the journal Health Science Reports.
Researchers affiliated with the University of California at San Diego and the University of Central Florida surveyed 412 women with a history of past-year cannabis use. Respondents’ mean age was 52 years old.
Forty-two percent of respondents said that they substituted cannabis for prescription anxiolytics or antidepressants. Women who reported difficulty sleeping were most likely to report substituting cannabis products for traditional medications.
The results are consistent with prior surveys finding that consumers often acknowledge using cannabis to mitigate symptoms of anxiety and depression.
“This study emphasizes the increasing trend of cannabis substitution for prescription medications among women experiencing moderate levels of anxiety and depression,” the study’s authors concluded. “These findings underscore the need for further research to clarify the relationship between cannabis use, mental health outcomes, and co‐occurring substance use. A deeper understanding of these interrelated factors will be essential for informing clinical interventions and public health strategies aimed at supporting women with anxiety and depression who turn to cannabis as an alternative treatment.”
Data published in 2023 in the journal Health Economics reported that the enactment of statewide adult-use marijuana legalization laws is associated with a “clear, immediate, statistically significant decrease” in mental health treatment admissions.
Full text of the study, “Substitution of cannabis for prescribed medications in the management of anxiety and depression among midlife women: A cross-sectional study,” appears in Health Science Reports.