A new study reveals the risks of teenage cannabis use may be significantly worse than previously thought
Teenagers who use cannabis are at an elevenfold-increased risk of developing a psychotic disorder, according to a new study.
The study, published in the journal Psychological Medicine, highlights the dangers of cannabis use among adolescents, and clearly suggests the risk may be even greater than previously thought.
“My interest in this topic was initially driven by the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada, which happened largely in the absence of solid evidence on the risks of cannabis use,” said study author André McDonald.
“One of the big questions related to cannabis is its link with psychotic disorders, particularly during youth. Most studies on this topic have used data from the 20th century when cannabis was significantly less potent than today in terms of THC, so we were also curious whether using more recent data would show a stronger link.”
The potency of cannabis, especially its tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, has increased tremendously in recent decades. In the 1980s, the average THC content of cannabis was around 1%, but now some strains have up to 90% or more THC. Many strains have around 20% THC content.
Maybe 20% of women are now using cannabis products during pregnancy. We have absolutely no idea of the effects of fetal exposure. This new rodent study suggests “complex effects” on metabolism and eating behaviour in rats whose mothers were exposed to THC during pregnancy. pic.twitter.com/I2WA2AGicV
— RAW EGG NATIONALIST (@Babygravy9) April 1, 2024
The researchers used survey and health data, including data about hospital visits, from over 10,00 young people aged 12-24 in Ontario, Canada. They excluded respondents who had used health services for psychiatric disorders in the previous six years before their survey interviews, to ensure that they had eliminated individuals who were using cannabis to treat pre-existing psychiatric disorders.
Respondents in the surveys were asked if they had ever used cannabis and if they had done so in the last 12 months. These responses were compared to data about hospital visits and, in particular, hospital visits related to any form of psychiatric disorder.
The researchers found that teenagers who reported using cannabis within the past year were eleven times more likely to be diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder than those who hadn’t.
What was particularly notable was that this effect was not observed in subjects aged 20-24, suggesting that cannabis poses a developmental risk to teenagers in particular.
The data also revealed that the vast majority of teens diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder had a history of cannabis use. Five out of every six teens who were hospitalized for a psychotic disorder had previously reported using cannabis.
New study suggests that cannabis consumption while pregnant can have disastrous effects on the development of male babies, retarding the development of their testes and significantly reducing testosterone production. It’s almost certain to affect female development too. pic.twitter.com/U2INMmuPLI
— RAW EGG NATIONALIST (@Babygravy9) July 13, 2023
“People should be aware of the risks associated with using cannabis at an early age. This study estimates that teens using cannabis are at 11 times higher risk of developing a psychotic disorder compared to teens not using cannabis,” said McDonald.
“It’s important to acknowledge that the vast majority of people who use cannabis will not develop a psychotic disorder, but this study suggests that most teens who develop a psychotic disorder have a history of cannabis use. This is important information to convey to teens but also parents of teens, who may not be aware that cannabis products today are different and may be more harmful than the ones that were around when they were teens. ”
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