Topic: Health

A large study tracked over 460,000 teenagers and found that those who used marijuana were more likely to develop serious mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and psychotic disorders. The risk was doubled for psychotic and bipolar disorders.

The study, published in JAMA Health Forum, followed 463,396 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 through age 26. Researchers found that teens who reported using marijuana within the previous year faced significantly higher risks of later developing serious psychiatric conditions. The risk of both psychotic and bipolar disorders was approximately doubled among adolescents who used marijuana.

The study relied on electronic health record data collected during routine pediatric visits from 2016 through 2023. On average, marijuana use was reported 1.7 to 2.3 years before a psychiatric disorder was diagnosed. Because the study followed participants over time, the findings provide stronger evidence that marijuana exposure during adolescence may contribute to the later development of mental illness.

Cannabis remains the most commonly used illicit drug among adolescents in the United States. Data from the Monitoring the Future study show that use increases steadily with age, rising from about 8% of eighth graders to 26% of twelfth graders.

Why It Matters

This study matters because it highlights the potential long-term consequences of marijuana use during adolescence. As cannabis becomes more accessible and socially accepted, it's essential for parents and teenagers to understand the risks and take steps to protect their mental health.

Key Facts

• The study tracked over 460,000 teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 through age 26.
• Teens who reported using marijuana within the previous year faced significantly higher risks of later developing serious psychiatric conditions.
• The risk of both psychotic and bipolar disorders was approximately doubled among adolescents who used marijuana.
• Cannabis remains the most commonly used illicit drug among adolescents in the United States.
• Marijuana use was reported 1.7 to 2.3 years before a psychiatric disorder was diagnosed.

Key Terms

Psychotic disorders

Serious mental health conditions that can cause hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking.

Implications

This study matters because it highlights the potential long-term consequences of marijuana use during adolescence. As cannabis becomes more accessible and socially accepted, it's essential for parents and teenagers to understand the risks and take steps to protect their mental health.