What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Addiction, Pain, Mental Health.

Where was this research published?

Published in Substance use & misuse on August 1, 2026.

Cannabis and opioid misuse share health and risk patterns

Q: What did this research study find?

Past-year prescription opioid misuse affected **3.7%** of adults aged 18–49 and **2.6%** of adults aged 50 and older.

Examining Correlates and Motives for Prescription Opioid Misuse Using the National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Do Older and Younger Adults Differ?

Substance use & misuse • August 1, 2026 • Moderately Relevant

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AI Summary

This U.S. survey analysis examined prescription opioid misuse among adults aged 18–49 and those aged 50 and older. Past-year misuse was reported by 3.7% of younger adults and 2.6% of older adults. In both age groups, misuse was associated with low household income, poor self-rated health, a history of depression, and a past-year alcohol or cannabis use disorder.

Some correlates differed by age: being divorced and having less education were associated with misuse among younger adults, but not older adults. Older age was initially linked with using opioids for pain relief, but this association did not remain significant after accounting for other factors. People with a past-year alcohol or cannabis use disorder were less likely to report pain relief as a motive. The findings may help clinicians target screening and treatment, including when cannabis use disorder is present, but the study identifies associations rather than proving that cannabis use causes or prevents opioid misuse.

💡 Key Findings

Past-year prescription opioid misuse affected 3.7% of adults aged 18–49 and 2.6% of adults aged 50 and older.

High

85%

Across both age groups, opioid misuse was associated with low income, poor self-rated health, depression, and past-year alcohol or cannabis use disorder.

High

80%

Being divorced and having lower education were associated with misuse among younger adults, but not among older adults.

Good

78%

Older age was initially associated with pain relief as a motive for misuse, but the association was not significant in multivariable analysis.

High

80%

People with a past-year alcohol or cannabis use disorder were less likely to report pain relief as a motive for prescription opioid misuse.

Good

75%

📄 Original Abstract

Background: Prescription opioid misuse is a significant health and social problem affecting American older adults, yet research has disproportionately focused on younger adults. Objectives: (1) To compare correlates of prescription opioid misuse among younger and older adults; and (2) To examine whether older age is associated with pain relief as a motive for misuse. Methods: Using the combined 2021, 2022, and 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, chi-square and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine correlates of opioid misuse among adults aged 18-49 (n = 107,755) and 50+ (n = 31,706). Additional analyses were conducted to examine whether older age is associated with pain relief as a motive for misuse (n = 4303). Results: The prevalence of past-year prescription opioid misuse was 3.7% among adults aged 18-49 and 2.6% among adults aged 50+. Correlates of prescription opioid misuse among both age cohorts included having a low household income, poor self-rated health, a history of depression, and having a past-year alcohol or cannabis use disorder. Being divorced and lower levels of education were associated with misuse among younger adults, but not older adults. Older age was associated with pain relief as a motive for misuse at the bivariate level, but was no longer significant in the multivariable analysis. In the multivariable analysis, those with a past-year alcohol or cannabis use disorder were less likely to report pain relief as a motive for misuse. Conclusions: Knowledge of correlates of misuse can help inform targeted screening and treatment to support people with opioid misuse.