Marijuana use and abuse might imply extra missed work

The findings were published Monday in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

For the study, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and the New York University Grossman School of Medicine analyzed data from the 2021–22 National Survey on Drug Use and Health on 46,500 adults employed full time in the U.S. Recent and frequent cannabis use, as well as cannabis use disorder (CUD), they found, was associated with greater workplace absenteeism.

Work absences included days missed due to illness or injury in addition to skipped days when employees “just didn’t want to be there.” Respondents were a majority or plurality white (62%), male (57%), ages 35 to 49 (35%), married (52%), had at least a college degree (42%), and had an annual household income exceeding $75,000 (55%). About 16% of employees had reported using cannabis within the last month, with about 7% of whom meeting CUD criteria (mild: 4%; moderate: 2%; severe: 1%). 

People who said they had never used cannabis missed an average 0.95 days of work in the past 30 days due to illness/injury and skipped 0.28 days. Cannabis users, by comparison, recorded the following absences:

• Past-month use: 1.47 illness/injury, 0.63 skipped
• Mild CUD: 1.74 illness/injury, 0.62 skipped
• Moderate CUD: 1.69 illness/injury, 0.98 skipped
• Severe CUD: 2.02 illness/injury, 1.83 skipped

The results also showed that people who used cannabis more frequently skipped the most work. For instance, those who consumed it once or twice per month skipped 0.48 days, while those who consumed it 20 to 30 days per month skipped 0.7 days. People who used cannabis three to five days per month had the highest prevalence of missed days due to illness/injury (1.68). Cannabis use longer than a month ago had no bearing on employee absence.

“These findings highlight the need for increased monitoring, screening measures, and targeted interventions related to cannabis use and use disorder among employed adults,” researchers wrote. “Moreover, these results emphasize the need for enhanced workplace prevention policies and programs aimed at addressing and managing problematic cannabis use.”

Researchers said that while their latest work supports much of the existing literature on cannabis use and workplace absenteeism, it also contrasts with other studies. One previous study, for example, showed a decline in sickness-related absences in the wake of medical marijuana legislation, while another found no link between the two.

One limitation of the new study, the authors note, is that it relied on participants’ self-reported answers. In addition, the data don’t reflect whether cannabis was used for medicinal or recreational purposes, whether it was consumed during work hours, or address other factors that may have affected a person’s cannabis use patterns.

What are the signs of cannabis use disorder?

That marijuana isn’t addictive is a myth. People with CUD are unable to stop using cannabis even when it causes health and social problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cannabis consumers have about a 10% likelihood of developing CUD, a disorder impacting nearly a third of all users, according to previous research estimates. At higher risk are people who start using cannabis as adolescents and who use the drug more frequently.

The CDC lists these behaviors as signs of CUD:

• Continuing to use cannabis despite physical or psychological problems
• Continuing to use cannabis despite social or relationship problems
• Craving cannabis
• Giving up important activities with friends and family in favor of using cannabis
• Needing to use more cannabis to get the same high
• Spending a lot of time using cannabis
• Trying but failing to quit using cannabis
• Using cannabis even though it causes problems at home, school, or work
• Using cannabis in high-risk situations, such as while driving a car
• Using more cannabis than intended

In addition to interfering with everyday life, CUD has been linked to unemployment, cognitive impairment, and lower education attainment. People with CUD often have additional mental health problems, including other substance abuse disorders. In this study, for example, 14% of respondents reported having alcohol use disorder within the past year.

If you or a loved one are struggling with cannabis use, help is available 24/7. Visit FindTreatment.gov, text your ZIP code to HELP4U (435748), or call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357) or TTY: 800-487-4889.

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