• Media type: E-Article
  • Title: Cannabis use for Sleep Disturbance Among Older Patients in a Geriatrics Clinic
  • Contributor: Kaufmann, Christopher N.; Malhotra, Atul; Yang, Kevin H.; Han, Benjamin H.; Nafsu, Reva; Lifset, Ella T.; Nguyen, Khai; Sexton, Michelle; Moore, Alison A.
  • Published: SAGE Publications, 2023
  • Published in: The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 97 (2023) 1, Seite 3-17
  • Language: English
  • DOI: 10.1177/00914150221128971
  • ISSN: 0091-4150; 1541-3535
  • Origination:
  • Footnote:
  • Description: Cannabis use is growing among older adults to manage medical concerns including poor sleep. In this study, we characterized how patients seen at a geriatrics clinic use cannabis to address sleep disturbance. Specifically, we conducted an anonymous survey of 568 adults, including 83 who reported cannabis use within the past 3 years, to inquire about such use. We compared cannabis use characteristics between those using it for sleep disturbance versus all other conditions. We considered a p-value <.10 to be statistically significant. Among the cannabis users in our sample, 29% reported using cannabis for sleep disturbance (N = 24). They were more likely than other users to be female ( p = .07), consume cannabis more frequently ( p = .01), use products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (vs. cannabidiol [CBD]-only; p < .01), and use cannabis to target more symptoms ( p < .01). As cannabis use continues to grow in older populations, it is essential to delineate better how cannabis may be used safely and effectively to improve older adults’ sleep health.