Attitudes On Cannabis Changing In America

Written by: MADELINE FERGUSON

Americans believe technology is more addicting than cannabis.

That is one of the many surprising findings from a survey recently published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Of those surveyed, 75 percent said technology is very or somewhat addictive and only 64 percent said cannabis is very or somewhat addicting.

They survey also showed that most Americans think cannabis is less harmful than alcohol, cigarettes and opioids. Only about 38 percent of people who took the survey said cannabis is “very or somewhat unsafe”, compared to cigarettes (84 percent), alcohol (64 percent) and opioids (66 percent).

Also less people feel cannabis is addictive when compared to alcohol, cigarettes and opiates.

The survey also asked about nicotine vapes. Seventy-six percent of people said vapes are somewhat or very unsafe and 81 percent said they are very or somewhat addicting.

The survey looked at seven categories in total.

• Technology

• Cigarettes

• Cannabis

• Vapes

• Alcohol

• Prescribed Opioids

• Non-prescribed Opioids

They looked at daily use of each of the categories, technology tops the list with 67 percent of people reporting daily use. At the bottom of the list is non-prescribed opioids, with only 2 percent of people reporting daily use.

“It is clear that we have gotten the message through that cigarettes are dangerous and addictive,” said APA President Petros Levounis, M.D., M.A. “We can help prevent more Americans from other potentially addictive behaviors, like drinking alcohol and technology use. For instance, vaping is just as, if not more addictive than cigarette smoking. We can also make sure that people know about our current safe and effective treatments for both substance use disorders and behavioral addictions. Addiction treatment works."

The survey also asked people a series of questions regarding addiction and substance use disorder. When asked whether addiction is a “personal weakness” 47 percent said yes and 53 percent said no. The strongest finding from the survey was that 93 percent of people think substance use disorders are treatable.

Only 71 percent of those surveyed said if they knew someone struggling with addiction, they would know how to help.

In response to this survey, the APA plans to launch an awareness campaign about addiction and substance use disorder. They will focus on vaping, opioids, alcohol and technology in different phases throughout the year.

“In 2022, opioids killed more than 100,000 people,” said APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A. “While it is encouraging that most Americans see substance use disorder as a treatable medical condition, we can do more to ensure that more of us in our communities are aware of and can access naloxone, which saves lives.”