Many people think that only older adults deal with pain, but research shows that young adults, too, can have significant pain—both short-term and long-term. This pain can lead them to start using cannabis earlier, sometimes along with alcohol.
A recent study by researchers from Binghamton University looked into this issue. They published two articles, one in Behavioral Medicine and the other in the Alcohol journal, based on research done by Callon Williams during her Ph.D. work. Her team also included Professor Nadine R. Mastroleo, Distinguished Professor Mark F. Lenzenweger, and Williams’s advisor, Assistant Professor Emily L. Zale.
"People often think of young adults as healthy and pain-free, but pain can still lead them to start using cannabis," Williams explained. She’s now a postdoctoral fellow at Toronto General Hospital.
The research focused on young adults aged 18 to 25, known as "emerging adults." The study used data from a large national survey called PATH, which tracks health and substance use in the U.S. This survey included 45,971 young adults and youth between 2013 and 2019. During this time, more states legalized cannabis for medical or recreational use, which changed the way the survey asked about cannabis use.
Pain in Young Adults
It’s a common belief that only older people experience pain, but that’s not true. In fact, many pain conditions in younger people are just as common as in older adults.
“We see that some chronic pain conditions peak in young adults and then stay the same into older adulthood,” said Zale. “Pain is often overlooked in young adults because they’re expected to be healthy, but the rates we see in our studies match what’s found worldwide.”
For this study, the researchers used the standard 10-point pain scale that doctors use, focusing on people who rated their pain at 4 or higher (moderate to severe pain).
Key Findings
The study found that young adults with moderate to severe pain were more likely to start using cannabis over the next few years compared to those who had little or no pain. These individuals also started using cannabis earlier and were 1.4 times more likely to use both alcohol and cannabis together. Mixing alcohol and cannabis is risky, as it can lead to negative outcomes like impaired driving, poor decision-making, or mental health issues.
While the study didn’t say whether this behavior continues or gets worse over time, other research suggests it likely does.
What This Means for Doctors
For healthcare providers working with young adults, it might be helpful to ask about pain when talking about substance use. Williams suggests that knowing how much pain someone is dealing with can give a clearer picture of why they might be turning to cannabis or alcohol.
"When helping young adults with substance use, it’s important to understand how pain may be influencing their choices," Williams said. "This research shows that pain is an important factor in whether they start using cannabis."
This study provides a starting point for understanding how pain might predict when young adults start using cannabis and mixing it with alcohol.
0 Comments