Cannabis Leads Teen Emergencies, Alcohol Leads Older

Adolescents ages 16 to 18 were far more likely than adults ages 55 to 64 to have a cannabis-involved emergency encounter.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Substance Abuse

Cannabis Leads Teen Emergencies, Alcohol Leads Older

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Do you think cannabis is doing more harm than alcohol to young people in your community?

A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry analyzed more than 5 million emergency department visits and hospitalizations tied to alcohol or cannabis use across the United States. The pattern differs by age: cannabis dominates among teens and young adults, while alcohol dominates among adults ages 55 to 64.

Why it matters

The findings give clinicians and families a clearer picture of which substances drive substance-related emergency care at different life stages, which can shape prevention and screening conversations. The study's large claims-based dataset helps show how these patterns have shifted across the 2016 to 2023 period.

This large claims-based analysis drew on more than 1.3 million people ages 16 to 64 with at least one substance-related emergency encounter between January 2016 and December 2023. Cannabis was counted in any visit where it appeared anywhere in the diagnosis list, and nearly half of cannabis-related encounters also involved at least one other substance.

The players

American Journal of Psychiatry

A peer-reviewed journal of the American Psychiatric Association that publishes research across psychiatric conditions, including substance use disorders.

Washington University School of Medicine

A St. Louis medical school with research programs in psychiatry and addiction, where the study's lead researcher holds a faculty appointment.

The details

The researchers drew on commercial insurance and Medicaid databases, counting any emergency visit or hospitalization where cannabis appeared anywhere in the diagnosis list. Because many cannabis-related encounters also involved another substance, the overlap helps explain why cannabis and alcohol both show up so heavily in these records. The study also points to dose-related thresholds, with about 40 milligrams of THC per week linked to a higher likelihood of cannabis use disorder in adults and about 30 milligrams per week in adolescents.

January 2016 to December 2023: period of substance-related emergency encounters analyzed
November 4, 2026: study findings published and reported

Health Landscape

Claims-based tracking of emergency visits for alcohol and cannabis use now shows a rising share of cannabis-involved encounters among teens, while alcohol remains the leading concern for older adults. The findings add population-level detail to ongoing efforts to understand how substance use patterns differ across the lifespan.

If you are a parent of a teen, this is a reminder that cannabis is now a common part of substance-related emergency care in that age group, which may be worth raising with your child's pediatrician. Adults in their fifties and sixties show a different pattern, with alcohol more often involved, so a conversation with your doctor about your own drinking may be a useful next step.

The takeaway

Age shapes which substance is most often involved in emergency care, so prevention conversations work best when tailored to life stage. Talk with your doctor about substance use patterns that fit your age and circumstances.