Teen cannabis use linked to psychosis and bipolar disorders in study : NPR
NPR • • general
Key Points:
- A new longitudinal study of 460,000 teenagers in Northern California found that cannabis use during adolescence significantly increases the risk of developing serious mental health disorders such as bipolar disorder and psychotic disorders, as well as anxiety and depression, later in life.
- Teens who used cannabis had twice the risk of being diagnosed with bipolar or psychotic disorders compared to non-users, with these conditions being among the most severe and disabling mental illnesses.
- The study also showed increased risks for depression (about 33% higher) and anxiety (about 25% higher), with younger teens being more vulnerable to these effects due to ongoing brain development.
- Researchers excluded adolescents with prior mental health symptoms to strengthen evidence of a causal link between cannabis use and subsequent mental health diagnoses
