Study Finds Blunt Smoking Rising Sharply Among U.S. Adults, Especially Women and Non-Drinkers

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Analyzing data from more than 326,000 adults surveyed between 2015 and 2022 through the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, researchers found sharp increases across all measures of blunt use. Lifetime blunt smoking rose 21.7%, current use climbed 34.4%, and daily blunt smoking among current users jumped 24.5%. The study highlights notable demographic shifts. Lifetime use rose significantly more among non-Hispanic White (23.7%) and Hispanic (30.2%) adults compared to non-Hispanic Black adults (8.6%). Current blunt smoking grew far faster among women (63.6%) than men (19%), and among non-drinkers (92.3%) compared to those who consume alcohol (23.4%). Daily use also grew most among White adults (80.4%), while remaining nearly flat among Black adults (3.7%).

Researchers concluded that blunt smoking is no longer concentrated among groups with historically higher prevalence, instead expanding most among women, older adults, and those who don’t drink alcohol. They note further study is needed to understand how initiation and escalation patterns might contribute to potential use disorders.