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Community-Sponsored Cannabis Education for Older Vermonters: An Investigation of Community Needs and Available Resources

Davis, Ivan
; 
Kabir, Raihan
; 
Koren, Benjamin
; 
Lapointe-Gagner, Maxime
; 
Thomas, Isabel
; 
Trisciuzzi, Merisah
; 
Verma, Serena
; 
Warfied, Andrew
; 
Hielscher, Abigail
; 
Abdullahi, Mahat
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http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
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.
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2025-01-29
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UnitedWay_Prevention.pdf_AWSAccessKeyId_AKIAYVUS7KB2IXSYB4XB_Signature_Ju59BmHVVa0Jf_2BlGt4tuWP8xL0c_3D_Expires_1745617448
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14849/1111
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Larner College of Medicine
United Way of Northwest Vermont-Northwest VT Prevention Network
United Way of Northwest Vermont-Northwest VT Prevention Network
United Way of Northwest Vermont-Northwest VT Prevention Network
United Way of Northwest Vermont-Northwest VT Prevention Network
Abigail Hielscher, PhD
Mahat Abdullahi
Camille Bakoulis
Amy Carmola, PhD
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United Way of Northwest Vermont-Northwest VT Prevention Network
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