Date of Publication
1-29-2025
Abstract
Background: Cannabis use among older adults is increasing, driven in part by recreational-use legalization and evolving norms. Considering the public health impact of substance-related resources, this study investigated how community service providers are informing older adults in Vermont about cannabis. Methods: Non-medical service organizations in Chittenden County were identified in partnership with United Way of Northwest Vermont. Representatives from 58 eligible organizations were contacted. Descriptive categorical data from a seven-question, multiple-selection survey were summarized. Results: Thirteen organizations completed the survey. Forty-six percent predominantly served older adults (>50%); none offered information on cannabis. Substance-related resources were largely distributed by organizations that provided basic needs (50%) and/or community services (60%). There was overlap between organizations currently sharing substance-related materials and those interested in providing information on cannabis if made available: most sites with nicotine materials (75%) and all sites with opioid and alcohol resources indicated interest. Overall, most organizations (62%) indicated a readiness to distribute materials on cannabis education. Conclusion: Organizations serving older Vermonters lack educational resources on cannabis. However, most organizations engaged in substance education express an interest in incorporating information on cannabis. Targeted distribution of cannabis-related materials is a feasible public health solution.
Advisor(s)
Abigail Hielscher, PhD
Larner College of Medicine
Mahat Abdullahi
United Way of Northwest Vermont-Northwest VT Prevention Network
Camille Bakoulis
United Way of Northwest Vermont-Northwest VT Prevention Network
Amy Carmola, PhD
United Way of Northwest Vermont-Northwest VT Prevention Network
United Way of Northwest Vermont-Northwest VT Prevention Network
Agency
United Way of Northwest Vermont-Northwest VT Prevention Network
Subjects
Older Adults, Educational and Community-Based Programs
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License
Recommended Citation
Davis, Ivan; Kabir, Raihan; Koren, Benjamin; Lapointe-Gagner, Maxime; Thomas, Isabel; Trisciuzzi, Merisah; Verma, Serena; Warfied, Andrew; Hielscher, Abigail PhD; Abdullahi, Mahat; Bakoulis, Camille; and Carmol, Amy, "Community-Sponsored Cannabis Education for Older Vermonters: An Investigation of Community Needs and Available Resources" (2025). Public Health Projects, 2008-present. 327.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/327
