Lead: Cannabis use and cannabis use disorder among older adults in the USALead: Cannabis use and cannabis use disorder among older adults in the USA
This Week in Addiction Medicine from ASAM
A concise news-style briefing summarises recent studies on cannabis use in older adults, harm reduction, smoke-free housing, opioid settlement funds, genetics of tobacco use, gambling in treatment settings, and trauma-related brain responses in alcohol use disorder. The focus stays on what current research suggests for screening, intervention, and policy in addiction medicine.
7:15•6 Oct 2026
Cannabis, Harm Reduction, and New Research Shaping Addiction Care
Episode Overview
- Cannabis use among adults aged 65 and older is common, and a significant subset meet criteria for cannabis use disorder, often at mild levels.
- Brief smoke-free home interventions may prompt attempts at change but tend to need higher intensity to sustain smoke-free living and support cessation.
- Emergency department harm reduction programmes benefit from strong local champions, clear legal understanding, and partnerships, but face stigma and competing priorities.
- Opioid settlement funds risk being diverted away from overdose prevention and addiction services without strong oversight and accountability structures.
- Genetic and epigenetic findings around tobacco use disorder may help predict treatment response and guide future personalised approaches.
“Clinicians should be screening for unhealthy cannabis use in this population, and early intervention could be of benefit as many have mild CUD.”
What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? This weekly briefing from the American Society of Addiction Medicine is geared towards clinicians, researchers, and anyone who likes their addiction updates short, sharp, and backed by data. Hosted by Zach Caruso, the episode opens with a focus on cannabis use among adults aged 65 and older in the USA.
Using recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health data, the report highlights that a notable proportion of older adults use cannabis, and a sizeable minority meet criteria for cannabis use disorder (CUD). Risk is higher among those with lifetime arrest, mental illness, tobacco and other drug use, and frequent cannabis use.
A key line sums up the clinical message: "Clinicians should be screening for unhealthy cannabis use in this population, and early intervention could be of benefit as many have mild CUD." From there, the episode moves quickly through several major studies, each given a clear, digestible summary. You’ll hear about smoke-free home interventions in permanent supportive housing, where brief interventions boosted attempts at smoke-free living but struggled to maintain long-term change.
There’s a practical review of harm reduction programmes in emergency departments, showing the importance of strong leadership, partnerships, and tackling stigma. The briefing also covers how opioid settlement funds are being used, warning that weak oversight may waste a major public health opportunity.
More clinically focused segments look at the rise of dexmedetomidine use in managing complex withdrawal cases, the strong link between gambling behaviour and poorer substance use outcomes, and emerging evidence on the genetic basis of tobacco use disorder. The episode closes with research on how childhood trauma shapes brain responses to alcohol cues differently for men and women, tying neuroscience back to everyday cravings and drinking patterns.
If you’re short on time but want up-to-date addiction medicine research in one place, this concise rundown may be exactly what you’re looking for. How might these findings shift the way you think about screening, treatment, and harm reduction?
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