Global epidemiology of cannabis use disorders and its trend from 1990 to 2019: Benchmarking analysis of the global burden of disease study

Kinjal Shah; Umm E Farwa; Ankitha Vanaparti; Savan Patel; Manisha Kanumuri; Oshin Vashishth; Nadia Hossain; Roopali Dahiya; Mallareddy Banala; Fredy Reynaldo Pavon Enamorado; Abhiraj S Patel; Huzaifa Nadeem; Ravi Kanani; Hardik D Desai; Kamal H Sharma; Sharanya Tripathi

doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_824_23

Global epidemiology of cannabis use disorders and its trend from 1990 to 2019: Benchmarking analysis of the global burden of disease study

J Family Med Prim Care. 2024 Mar;13(3):881-889. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_824_23. Epub 2024 Apr 4.

Authors

Kinjal Shah¹, Umm E Farwa², Ankitha Vanaparti³, Savan Patel⁴, Manisha Kanumuri⁵, Oshin Vashishth⁶, Nadia Hossain⁷, Roopali Dahiya⁸, Mallareddy Banala⁹, Fredy Reynaldo Pavon Enamorado¹⁰, Abhiraj S Patel¹¹, Huzaifa Nadeem¹², Ravi Kanani¹³, Hardik D Desai¹⁴, Kamal H Sharma¹⁵, Sharanya Tripathi¹⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health Administration, Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, New Jersey, United States of America.
² Department of Internal Medicine, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan.
³ Department of Internal Medicine, Kakatiya Medical College, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
⁴ Department of Internal Medicine, Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad, Gujarat, India.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry, Mediciti Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
⁶ Department of Internal Medicine, St. Martinus University, Willemstad, Curaçao.
⁷ Department of Internal Medicine, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
⁸ Department of Internal Medicine, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi, Delhi, India.
⁹ Department of Internal Medicine, Katuri Medical College and Hospital, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
¹⁰ Department of Internal Medicine, Universidad Catolica de Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
¹¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Our Lady of Fatima University College of Medicine, Valenzuela, Philippines.
¹² Department of Psychiatry, CMH Lahore Medical College, Combined Military Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
¹³ Department of Research Wing, Gujarat Adani Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhuj, Gujarat, India.
¹⁴ Department of Research Wing, Gujarat Adani Institute of Medical Sciences, Affiliated to K.S.K.V University, Bhuj, Gujarat, India.
¹⁵ Department of Cardiology, U N Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Center, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
¹⁶ Department of Internal Medicine, G.M.E.R.S Medical College, M.S. University, Gotri, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.

Abstract

Introduction: Cannabis is one of the most widely used psychoactive substances globally, with an increasing trend in its legalization for both medical and recreational purposes in various countries. While cannabis offers potential therapeutic benefits, its regular use can lead to the development of Cannabis Use Disorders (CUDs). Understanding the epidemiology of CUDs is crucial in assessing the public health burden associated with cannabis use.

Methods: Epidemiological parameters of CUDs were assessed using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) methodology across different age-groups, years, sexes, and locations worldwide from 1990-2019.

Results: Globally, for both sexes combined, prevalent cases of CUDs increased steadily from 17.1 million(95%UI=12.7-22.8million) in 1990 to 23.8-million(95%UI=17.8-30.9 million) in 2019. All age-adjusted highest number of incidence observed in High-Income-North-America(HINA)(121/100,000), followed by Australasia(100/100,000), Oceania(83.97/100,000), Tropical Latin America(69.59/100,000). Globally, age-standardized disability-adjusted life years rate(ASDR) observed higher in HINA, followed by Australasia, and Western-Europe. In male, all-age incidence counts increased from 1.7 million(95%UI=1.3-2.4million) in 1990 to 2.4 million(95%UI=1.8-3.2 million) in 2019. The highest annual percentage of change in age-standardized incidence rate(ASIR) was found in East-Asia (22%) followed by Middle-East and North-Africa(MENA)(15%). The age group of 15-24 years exhibited the highest burden of CUDs.

Conclusion: The widespread occurrence of CUDs on a global scale poses a substantial challenge to public health. Understanding the impact of CUDs and implementing evidence-based interventions is crucial in mitigating the associated individual, societal, and economic burdens. Continued research, collaboration, and knowledge dissemination are essential to inform policies, prevention efforts, and treatment strategies aimed at addressing CUDs on a global-scale.

Keywords: Cannabis burden; cannabis use disorder; cannabis use disorder statistics; epidemiology; marijuana.