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Cannabis use modalities are associated with sociodemographic characteristics and patterns of cannabis use among US adults: A latent class analysis

Addictive Behaviors·August 8
Psychology, ClinicalConfirms priorCannabis UseCannabis Use DisorderCross-Sectional StudyCannabis EdiblesCannabis SmokingCannabis VapingAdult

Summary

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What was studied

This cross-sectional study used latent class analysis (LCA) on 17,732 US adults reporting past 30-day cannabis use from the 2022–2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) to identify patterns of cannabis consumption modality (smoking, vaping, edibles, polymodal) and their associations with demographics, use frequency, and cannabis use disorder (CUD).

Key findings

Four modality classes emerged: primary smoking (48.2%), smoking and vaping (20.5%), mainly edibles (16.9%), and polymodal use (14.4%). Adults aged 18–25 were more likely to be polymodal users (aRRR = 3.58, 95% CI: 2.48–5.18) vs. those ≥50; females favored edibles (aRRR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.48–2.13). Polymodal users had the highest daily use risk (aRRR = 2.67) and elevated CUD risk; edible-only users had lower daily use (aRRR = 0.49) and lower CUD risk compared to primary smokers.

Study limitations

Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference. Self-reported modality data may undercount stigmatized routes. The survey may not fully capture emerging modalities (e.g., dabbing, tinctures).

Clinical implications

Clinicians should ask about *how* patients use cannabis, not just whether they use it — polymodal and combined smoking/vaping patterns are linked to higher CUD risk, especially in younger adults. Edible-predominant users may need different harm-reduction messaging than smokers or vapers.

Related Questions

Explore related topics

How does cannabis vaping compare to smoking in risk of cannabis use disorder?What demographic factors predict edible versus smoked cannabis use in adults?How should clinicians screen for cannabis use disorder in polymodal cannabis users?

Publication Details

Year
2026
Journal
Addictive Behaviors
Sample Size
n=17,732
Source
View article
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