Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40022818›Full record

ArticleDrug and alcohol dependence2025

Synthetic cannabinoid use among noninstitutionalized individuals in the United States, 2021-2023.

Joseph J Palamar, Nina Abukahok, Austin Le

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Drug and alcohol dependence, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Joseph J PalamarDepartment of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: joseph.palamar@nyulangone.org.
Nina AbukahokDepartment of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.
Austin LeDepartment of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.

Funding

National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS) COVID-19 SupplementU01DA051126 · NIDA · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · PI Linda B. Cottler, Joseph J Palamar · 2020 to 2026
$6.3M
New psychoactive substance exposure among NYC nightclub and festival attendeesR01DA057289 · NIDA · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · PI Joseph J Palamar · 2023 to 2026
$2.7M
NIDA NIH HHS R01 DA057289NIDA NIH HHS U01 DA051126
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWe sought to estimate the prevalence of synthetic cannabinoid use and characteristics of people who use in the US general population.

methodsWe compared the prevalence of past-year synthetic cannabinoid use in 2023 to 2021 among individuals ages ≥ 12 surveyed via the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (N = 173,808). We also compared prevalence according to demographic and drug use characteristics and delineated correlates of past-year use.

resultsSynthetic cannabinoid use increased from 0.17 % in 2021 to 0.26 % in 2023, a 50.0 % increase (p = .042) (0.25 % prevalence in 2021-2023 overall). The largest increases were among those aged ≥ 35 (by 255.3 %), those with an annual family income of < $20,000 (by 242.1 %), and those who used methamphetamine in the past year (by 184.6 %) (Ps < .05). In our final multivariable model, those with less than a high school diploma (aOR=2.20, 95 % CI: 1.12-4.32) and those with past-year cannabis use (aOR=13.55, 95 % CI: 8.36-21.95) and use disorder (aOR=26.03, 95 % CI: 17.70-38.29) were at higher odds for synthetic cannabinoid use, as were people with methamphetamine use (aOR=3.08, 95 % CI: 1.18-8.01) and use disorder (aOR=4.74, 95 % CI: 2.17-10.37), and prescription opioid misuse (aOR=1.75, 95 % CI: 1.05-2.93) and use disorder (aOR=3.22, 95 % CI: 1.78-5.82).

conclusionSurvey data suggest that synthetic cannabinoid use is rare but increasing, particularly among people of lower socioeconomic status and people who use other drugs. Cannabis use disorder in particular is associated with higher odds for use. Research is needed to determine if overreporting is occurring due to confusion with emerging cannabis products.

Indexed as

CannabinoidsSubstance-Related DisordersSynthetic DrugsAdolescentAdultAgedChildFemaleHealth SurveysHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceUnited StatesYoung AdultCannabinoidsSynthetic DrugsCannabisSocioeconomic statusSubstance use disorderSynthetic cannabinoids

Identifiers

PMID40022818
PMCPMC11908885

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.