Mental and Physical Health Conditions Among U.S. Veterans with Cannabis Use and Cannabis Use Disorders

Abstract

Purpose of ReviewVeterans are a large population that is disproportionately affected by various physical and mental health conditions. The primary aim of this review is to provide a concise overview of recent literature on the prevalence of cannabis use and cannabis use disorder (CUD) among US veterans, and associations with mental and physical health conditions. We also addressed gaps in the literature by investigating associations between CUD and mental and physical health conditions in 2019 data from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA; N = 5,657,277).Recent FindingsIn total, 25 studies were reviewed. In 2019, the prevalence of Veteran cannabis use ranged from 11.9–18.7%. Cannabis use and CUD were associated with bipolar disorders, psychotic disorders, suicidality, pain conditions, and other substance use, but less consistently associated with depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Analyses of 2019 VHA data indicated that CUD was strongly associated with a broad array of physical and mental health conditions and mortality.SummaryCannabis use and CUD are prevalent and highly comorbid with other conditions among US veterans. Harm reduction methods tailored to these populations are needed.