Adolescents using cannabis are at an increasing risk of depression and are more likely to attempt suicide in adulthood. A study published in JAMA Psychiatry reveals that the individual-level risk after using cannabis was “modest”, but due to the widespread use of the drug by young people, the scale of risk is more serious. For people who suffer from depression, behavioral health engagement solutions can be helpful.
Nearly 21 percent of adolescents in the U.S. report monthly use of the drug and 7 percent of U.S. high school seniors are using it daily or almost daily.
Researchers have analysed 11 international studies involving 23,317 people to determine the drug’s impact. It was found that chances of developing depression among users of cannabis later in life was 1.37 times higher than for nonusers.
The chances of manifesting anxiety symptoms were 1.8 times higher, while the risk of developing suicidal ideation was 1.5 time higher. The possibility of attempting suicide was 3.46 times higher.
The findings equate to more than 400,000 adolescent cases of depression in the U.S. While 25,000 in Canada and 60,000 in the U.K. that could potentially be attributed to cannabis exposure.
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