This Week in Addiction Medicine is an audio summary of the recent top stories and research articles from the field of addiction medicine. Intended to serve as an accompaniment to the ASAM Weekly (https://www.asam.org/publications-resources/the-asam-weekly) newsletter or as a stand-alone resource, This Week covers recent publications in addiction medicine research.
Lead: Cannabis use and cannabis use disorder among older adults in the USA
Cannabis use and cannabis use disorder among older adults in the USA
Addiction
Cannabis use has increased among older adults (≥65 years) and to better describe cannabis use and cannabis use disorder (CUD) in this population researchers used the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from 2021 to 2024. Overall, 8.9% of older adults reported past 12-month use and 6.0% reported past 30-day use. Among those who reported past 12-month use, 11.4% met criteria for CUD (76% mild, 20.1% moderate, and 3.9% severe). Those with lifetime arrest, past-year mental illness, tobacco use, other drug use, frequent cannabis use (>300 days in last year), and males were more likely to have CUD. Of note, 19.9% of older adults reporting cannabis use reported it had been recommended by a doctor. The authors suggest clinicians should be screening for unhealthy cannabis use in this population and early intervention could be of benefit as many have mild CUD.
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29 Sept 2026
Lead: Adolescent cannabis use disorder following recreational cannabis legalization in California, USA: A population-based interrupted time series study
Adolescent cannabis use disorder following recreational cannabis legalization in California, USA: A population-based interrupted time series study
Addiction
Adolescent past-year cannabis use trends have remained relatively flat nationally as legalization has spread, but less is known about clinical outcomes such as incident cannabis use disorder (CUD). Researchers evaluated incident CUD case trends among adolescents in California between 2014 and 2020 to assess recreational cannabis legalization (RCL) impact. Incidence of CUD was trending lower between 2014 and 2016 prior to RCL, but post-RCL there was an inflection in the annualized incidence rate , and it started to increase. Notably the increase in incidence trend started after RCL passage, even before implementation of the law. The increasing trend continued after RCL implementation and through 2020. The authors note these findings highlight the importance of monitoring CUD outcomes along with use prevalence to assess public health impacts of cannabis legalization.
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22 Sept 2026
Lead: Abandonment of prescribed buprenorphine for opioid use disorder, 2020-2024
Abandonment of prescribed buprenorphine for opioid use disorder, 2020-2024
JAMA Network Open
This retrospective cohort study examined characteristics associated with abandonment of newly prescribed buprenorphine, defined as a prescription that was written but not dispensed or filled, and trends in abandonment among adults from 2020 to 2024 to inform efforts to improve buprenorphine access. Researchers found the proportion of abandoned newly prescribed buprenorphine prescriptions for opioid use disorder increased from 2020 to 2024. Over 1 in 3 patients’ first buprenorphine prescriptions were abandoned in 2024, representing a missed opportunity for treatment initiation and engagement. Hispanic patients had a higher proportion of prescription abandonment, possibly due to language and pharmacy-level barriers, such as limited retail pharmacies in Hispanic communities and neighborhoods. Increasing opioid overdose death rates among Hispanics highlights the importance of expanding access among this population.
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Who has been a guest on This Week in Addiction Medicine from ASAM
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Dr David Lee
Dr Emily Carter
Dr Michael Lee
Dr Arthur L Caplan
Dr Michael Chen
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YouTube views
16,762
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.4 / 5
8 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 71 / 100
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81
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
75
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