Regular cannabis use is linked to more symptoms of cannabis use disorder (CUD) in adolescents than adults. The corresponding study was published in the European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience.
Early cannabis use is linked to negative outcomes in adulthood, including poorer mental health and sociodemographic disadvantage. Studies also report that the earlier one starts to use cannabis, the higher the likelihood of CUD in adulthood.
CUD involves symptoms such as not being able to quit or reduce cannabis use, cannabis use interfering with daily obligations, and worsening mental or physical health.
“We already knew, from earlier research, that adolescents (people up to the age of 25) have higher rates of cannabis use disorder than adults, but until now we didn’t know if this was because younger people were simply using more or stronger cannabis than adults. We now know this isn’t the case,” said study first author Dr. Rachel Lees, Research Associate at the Department of Psychology at the University of Bath, in a press release.
In the current study, researchers compared rates of cannabis use disorder in adolescents and adults who frequently used cannabis. To do so, they analyzed data from 70 adults aged 26- 29 years old who did not regularly use cannabis under age 18, alongside 76 adolescents aged 16-17 years old.
At the start of the study, the two groups used cannabis for the same number of days per week. The researchers assessed candidates every three months over the course of a year. Data collected included symptoms of CUD, the type of cannabis used as well as its THC content.
Ultimately, the researchers found that over the 12-month study period, adolescents consistently had more CUD symptoms than adults.
“We found that 70% of the adolescents reported having failed to do what was normally expected of them because of using cannabis, whereas only 20% of the adults reported having experienced this. Also, 80% of the adolescents reported devoting a great deal of time to getting, using or recovering from cannabis use, compared to 50% of the adults,” said Dr. Lees.
She added that the results are concerning as adolescents may not be aware of the symptoms of CUD, and may perceive cannabis to be linked to low level of risk for harm.
Senior study author Dr Tom Freeman, Reader at the Department of Psychology at the University of Bath senior author of the study said in a press release:
“What we need to do now is to generate safer use guidelines for people who use cannabis based on levels of consumption, in the same way that alcohol guidelines can help people who drink to reduce their risks.”
Sources: EurekAlert, European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience