Medical Cannabis Patients Under the Age of 21 in the United States: Description of Demographics and Conditions from a Large Patient Database, 2019-2023.
Mitchell L Doucette, Dipak Hemraj, Douglas Bruce, Emily Fisher, D Luke Macfarlan
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: Existing research on medical cannabis patients has often overlooked those younger than 21. This study aimed to detail the frequency and rate of pediatric medical cannabis patients in the US using a large patient database.
Methods: Utilizing Leafwell Patient Database data from 2019 to mid-2023, we described demographics and qualifying conditions, employing descriptive statistics and χ2 tests to discern differences between minors (0-17 years) and young adults (18-20 years). We calculated rates per 100,000 population by state.
Results: Analyzing 13,855 patients, 5.7% were minors and 94.3% were young adults. Anxiety emerged as the primary self-reported condition for both groups, yet differences were seen for other conditions. Differences were observed by race/ethnicity, health insurance status, residency in adult-use states, and number of reported conditions. Notably, both groups reported a similar average number of conditions.
Conclusion: This study underscores demographic distinctions between minor-aged medical cannabis patients and young adults. There is a need for comprehensive clinical research addressing efficacy, safety, and tailored guidelines specific for pediatric medical cannabis patients. Such insights are pivotal for healthcare providers and policymakers in navigating medical cannabis treatment protocols.
期刊介绍:
Adolescent Health, Medicine and Therapeutics is an international, peer reviewed, open access journal focusing on health, pathology, and treatment issues specific to the adolescent age group, including health issues affecting young people with cancer. Original research, reports, editorials, reviews, commentaries and adolescent-focused clinical trial design are welcomed. All aspects of health maintenance, preventative measures, disease treatment interventions, studies investigating the poor outcomes for some treatments in this group of patients, and the challenges when transitioning from adolescent to adult care are addressed within the journal. Practitioners from all disciplines are invited to submit their work as well as health care researchers and patient support groups. Areas covered include: Physical and mental development in the adolescent period, Behavioral issues, Pathologies and treatment interventions specific to this age group, Prevalence and incidence studies, Diet and nutrition, Specific drug handling, efficacy, and safety issues, Drug development programs, Outcome studies, patient satisfaction, compliance, and adherence, Patient and health education programs and studies.