Excessive marijuana use has long been recognized by doctors as a potential trigger for psychosis, particularly in young individuals. However, recent research indicates that the connection between the two is even stronger than previously thought.
Canadian researchers have found that teenagers who use cannabis are 11 times more likely to experience a psychotic episode compared to those who do not use the drug. This study emphasizes the potential risks associated with cannabis use among adolescents.
Related posts
During adolescence, individuals may be particularly susceptible to these factors, as highlighted by the researchers.
“We discovered a significant connection between marijuana use and the risk of developing a psychotic disorder during adolescence. It is quite surprising that we did not find any evidence of this association in young adulthood,” stated Andrรฉ McDonald, the lead author of the study conducted during his doctoral research at the University of Toronto.
The research findings were recently published in the journal Psychological Medicine. McDonald conducted the study during his time at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES).
Psychotic episodes are a perilous psychiatric state where individuals lose touch with reality. These episodes can become so uncontrollable that hospitalization becomes necessary.
Marijuana use has long been associated with the potential to trigger psychosis, and recent research from Toronto suggests that the potency of cannabis today is much stronger than it was in the past. The investigators estimate that the average THC potency of cannabis in Canada has increased from approximately 1% in 1980 to a staggering 20% in 2018.
How does the use of ultra-potent marijuana impact the developing brains of teenagers?
McDonald and his colleagues analyzed survey data from more than 11,000 youth in Ontario, Canada. They also examined provincial health service records, including hospitalizations, visits to the emergency department (ED), and outpatient visits, in order to uncover the answer.
Researchers discovered a significant correlation between teenagers using marijuana and an increase in hospital visits for psychosis.
The study discovered that a staggering 5 out of every 6 teenagers who were hospitalized for a psychotic episode had previously used marijuana. This statistic highlights the strong correlation between marijuana use and the occurrence of psychotic episodes in young individuals.
According to a news release from ICES, McDonald emphasized that most teens who use cannabis will not develop a psychotic disorder.
He also acknowledged that the data suggests a correlation between cannabis use and the diagnosis of psychotic disorders in most teenagers.
The study only found a link between marijuana use and psychosis, without establishing a definitive cause-and-effect relationship. It is plausible that adolescents who were already susceptible to psychosis may have been more inclined to use marijuana as a form of self-medication. Additionally, genetic factors and personal traumas in their lives could also contribute to this association.
According to Susan Bondy, the senior author of the study, the strong statistical connection between marijuana use and psychotic episodes is thought-provoking.
“As the availability of commercialized cannabis products increases and their THC content becomes higher, it is now more crucial than ever to develop prevention strategies that specifically target teenagers,” stated Bondy. He is an affiliate scientist at ICES and an associate professor at the University of Toronto.
