Cannabis increases the likelihood of this disorder in teenagers despite infrequent use

Cannabis and drug use among teenagers are issues that have bothered us for a long time. Although we don’t understand many things about cannabis, the plant is generally considered relatively safe. With teenagers it is a little different. Because their brains are developing, the side effects associated with cannabis can be more unexpected.

One area of ​​concern is cannabis use and its impact on adolescents and conditions such as schizophrenia. A new study found some links between teenage cannabis use and schizophrenia that are more alarming than expected, with research suggesting there is a link between the two, regardless of whether teens use the drug frequently or infrequently.

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Photo by Toan Nguyen via Unsplash

The study compiled a review of all published material on teenage cannabis use and its impact on schizophrenia from 2010 to 2020. They found that high- and low-frequency cannabis users were six times more likely to develop schizophrenia than those who never used cannabis.

While the study raises some important questions and areas of concern, it’s important to note that an overview of several studies contains some caveats, such as the definition, how each study categorizes low frequency and high frequency, and the type of cannabis ingested. For example, the study defined low-frequency cannabis users as teenagers using cannabis twice a week, which is fairly regular, particularly when it comes to subjects between the ages of 12 and 18.

Researchers studying teenage cannabis users and schizophrenia have no way of knowing whether cannabis increases the likelihood of people developing the condition. All you know is that there is a connection between the two. People between the ages of 12 and 18 are in this phase, where they start researching drugs while also developing symptoms of conditions like schizophrenia. Then there are also genetic predispositions, leading researchers to wonder if cannabis causes schizophrenia or if teenagers with a predisposition to the condition are more likely to seek out cannabis.

RELATED: Here’s What You Should Know About Teens and Marijuana Abuse

Teens are more likely to use weed and alcohol when they doPhoto by Maria Teneva via Unsplash

This theme creates a set of conditions that are difficult to handle without fear mongering. Still, it might be helpful to think of cannabis as a benign issue, but one that should be carefully addressed when people have a predisposition to mental illness, whether it’s schizophrenia or something like anxiety or depression.

As with cannabis, more research is needed to get a full picture of the drug, its capabilities, and its risks.

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