people of low socioeconomic status, who earned less than $20,000 a year, the study showed.

Men of low-income levels were the force behind the widening gender gap in the predominance of marijuana use. About 19 percent of men with income levels of less than $20,000 reported using marijuana in 2007; by 2014, more than 26 percent of men with the same income reported using the drug.   

“Our findings are consistent with other studies [which showed] increased substance use during times of economic insecurity, especially among men,” Hasin stated.  

Hasin linked the recent data to the Great Recession, which began in December 2007, and pointed out that drug use has been historically associated with lower employment rates and weak economies.

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“As these patterns are only associations, research is needed to track individual changes in marijuana use over time, in response to personal financial fluctuations,” she stated. “This may vary between men and women.”

Women are now closing the alcoholic gender gap but since substance use disorder is commonly more prominent among men, some of these findings do not come as a surprise. However, this research is one of the only recent assessments of marijuana use that takes into consideration gender and economic differences.  

“Researchers should continue to monitor prevalence of use at a national level and use this evidence to help explain changing patterns in substance use disorders, injury morbidity and mortality, and use of other substances,” Hasin wrote.

Livia Areas-Holmblad
Author: Livia Areas-Holmblad

Livia Holmblad is an editor at Addiction Now and covers breaking news, features and everything in between. She moved to SoCal after living in NYC for about 10 years, where she worked for VICE and SinoVision as a writer, editor, host, producer, and director. Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro. Contact Livia at liviah@addictionnow.com

Summary
Increase in marijuana use linked to economic insecurity, new study shows
Article Name
Increase in marijuana use linked to economic insecurity, new study shows
Description
A recent study shows that despite the general increase in past-year marijuana use observed among both men and women, the increase was significantly higher among men. From 2007 to 2014 there was a 4 percent increase among men at variance with a 2.7 percent among women. Marijuana use increased most significantly among people of low socioeconomic status, who earned less than $20,000 a year.
Author
Livia Areas-Holmblad
Publisher Name
Addiction Now