Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Recreational marijuana use is now an adult thing to do, new research suggests.
A recent study conducted by NYU‘s Langone Medical Center has found a massive increase in the rate of pot users over the age of 50 since 2006.
“Given the unprecedented aging of the U.S. population, we are facing a never before seen cohort of older adults who use recreational drugs,” said Benjamin Han, MD, MPH, a geriatrician and health services researcher from the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care at NYU Langone Medical Center.
Researchers evaluated data compiled from 47,140 adults aged 50 and older in the United States through a secondary analysis of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from 2006 to 2013.
The authors found a 71 percent increase in marijuana use among adults the age of 50 and over throughout the same time period. Adults aged 65 years and older used pot significantly less, although their prevalence of use actually increased nearly three times as much over the span of eight years.
“I thought the perception of low risk was fascinating because, typically, we think of older generations as drug-adverse, and perceiving most drugs to be risky,” said Dr. Joseph J. Palamar, an assistant professor of Population Health at NYU Langone. “But apparently very few Baby Boomer users consider marijuana use risky. But after all, this was the generation who was there, in the late 1960s, when the counterculture revolution exploded marijuana into mainstream popularity.”
Researchers believe that the expanded use of medical cannabis among older adults shouldn’t be much of a concern since most baby boomers who use pot are experienced and understand what they’re getting into.
“Personally, I don’t think we need to be very alarmed about most older people who are using marijuana, as our results suggest that only 4% started use after age 35,” Dr. Palamar noted. “It is probable that most older users are at least somewhat experienced and are hopefully at reasonably low risk of harming themselves or others after use.”
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Baby Boomer Marijuana Use On The Rise Amidst Legalization
Author: Oscar Pascual
Contact: SFGate
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: SFGate
A recent study conducted by NYU‘s Langone Medical Center has found a massive increase in the rate of pot users over the age of 50 since 2006.
“Given the unprecedented aging of the U.S. population, we are facing a never before seen cohort of older adults who use recreational drugs,” said Benjamin Han, MD, MPH, a geriatrician and health services researcher from the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care at NYU Langone Medical Center.
Researchers evaluated data compiled from 47,140 adults aged 50 and older in the United States through a secondary analysis of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from 2006 to 2013.
The authors found a 71 percent increase in marijuana use among adults the age of 50 and over throughout the same time period. Adults aged 65 years and older used pot significantly less, although their prevalence of use actually increased nearly three times as much over the span of eight years.
“I thought the perception of low risk was fascinating because, typically, we think of older generations as drug-adverse, and perceiving most drugs to be risky,” said Dr. Joseph J. Palamar, an assistant professor of Population Health at NYU Langone. “But apparently very few Baby Boomer users consider marijuana use risky. But after all, this was the generation who was there, in the late 1960s, when the counterculture revolution exploded marijuana into mainstream popularity.”
Researchers believe that the expanded use of medical cannabis among older adults shouldn’t be much of a concern since most baby boomers who use pot are experienced and understand what they’re getting into.
“Personally, I don’t think we need to be very alarmed about most older people who are using marijuana, as our results suggest that only 4% started use after age 35,” Dr. Palamar noted. “It is probable that most older users are at least somewhat experienced and are hopefully at reasonably low risk of harming themselves or others after use.”
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Baby Boomer Marijuana Use On The Rise Amidst Legalization
Author: Oscar Pascual
Contact: SFGate
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: SFGate
