According to a new large-scale study published in the journal JAMA, marijuana use during adolescence significantly increases the risk of developing severe mental illnesses in adulthood. Researchers analyzed data from more than 460,000 individuals aged 13 to 26 and determined that substance use often precedes the onset of serious diagnoses.
The study revealed that young people who used cannabis during their adolescence are twice as likely to develop severe conditions, such as psychotic and bipolar disorders. Additionally, the risk of depression and anxiety disorders is also substantially elevated. On average, a period of 1.7 to 2.3 years passes from the first use of cannabis to the manifestation of mental health symptoms, suggesting that the substance may be a key causative factor of the disease.
Scientists specifically note that modern cannabis products are far more potent than those in previous decades. For example, the THC (the primary psychoactive compound) content in cannabis flowers sold in California exceeds 20%, while in concentrates, it can reach as high as 95%. Such high doses are particularly harmful to the developing adolescent brain.
The study’s authors emphasize that cannabis use among teenagers should not be perceived as “harmless behavior.” The danger applies not only to those with an addiction but also to those who use the substance episodically. Researchers also fear that the commercialization of cannabis may further exacerbate mental health issues among lower-income populations, where substance use is more prevalent.
