Staff Reports
A recent study showed that teenagers who use marijuana put themselves at risk for dangerous mental health problems, according to the Washington Examiner. The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Toronto and published in the journal Psychological Medicine, revealed that teenagers who used marijuana were 11 times more likely to develop psychotic disorders compared to those who did not use the drug. This is a troubling discovery that adds to the growing body of research emphasizing the harmful effects of marijuana on adolescent mental health.
The lead author of the study, Andre McDonald, urged teens to avoid using cannabis in order to protect their mental well-being. Moreover, the study found that marijuana use during adolescence is linked to negative mental health outcomes such as mental illness, depression, anxiety, and addiction. The study also emphasized the increased risk of addiction in general for teens who use marijuana.
I wish my friend Dr. Sanjay Gupta would listen to
Dr. Vin Gupta when it came to marijuana…@drsanjaygupta @VinGuptaMDStudy finds teens who use marijuana are more likely to suffer from psychotic disorders https://t.co/XTagvSiWLz via @nbcnews
— Kevin Sabet (@KevinSabet) May 23, 2024
Dr. Leslie Hulvershorn, a child psychiatrist and chair of the psychiatry department at Indiana University, echoed these concerns, stating that youths who experience psychotic symptoms are almost always heavy cannabis users. It is becoming increasingly evident that the use of marijuana during the formative teenage years is associated with elevated risks for mental health problems.
Dr. Kevin Gray, a professor of psychiatry and director of addiction sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina, added to the discussion by highlighting the potential serious risks associated with cannabis use during adolescence, and emphasized the importance of delaying cannabis use until one’s 20s in order to mitigate these risks.
These findings greatly contribute to the growing body of evidence that suggests marijuana use during the teenage years has a significant impact on mental health, and underscores the importance of discouraging young people from using cannabis.
