Teens who start using cannabis before they turn 15 are more likely to develop mental and physical health problems in young adulthood compared to their peers who don’t use the drug as teenagers. These findings were published in a new study in JAMA Open Network, a peer-reviewed source of health-related information. “This further builds the case that cannabis use in adolescence adversely affects the health trajectories of those who use it,” explains psychiatrist Dr. Ryan Sultan, of Columbia University, to NPR News.
The study shares ongoing research exploring cannabis use in children between the ages of 12 and 17. The JAMA study used data from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, which had been following more than 1,500 children since birth into young adulthood to understand factors that influence their development and health.
Researchers discovered that the majority of teens didn’t use marijuana in adolescence, but about 20% who started using marijuana before they turned 15 were using it at least once a month by the time they turned 17. That last group was also more likely to seek healthcare in young adulthood for mental and physical health conditions compared to those who didn’t use the drug as teens.
Frequent marijuana users who started early had a 51% chance of seeking care for mental health problems in young adulthood compared to those who didn’t use the drug. That risk was calculated by looking at a variety of other factors that can affect mental health, such as bullying or lack of parental involvement. Out of that group, 86% also had a higher chance of needing care for physical health needs as well, which may be due to problems with intoxication from cannabis, withdrawal symptoms, respiratory problems, and accidental injuries.
Prior studies have returned similar findings, and cannabis use among adolescents is still being studied. However, there is enough evidence for scientists and medical professionals to sound the alarm about talking to parents and teens about delaying cannabis use until age 25.