“Youth under 15 are in a critical period of brain growth, which may make them more susceptible to cannabis’s effects on mental health,” said study author, Massimiliano Orri, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at McGill, in a press release, “Cannabis can also impair attention and cognition, which may increase the likelihood of accidents causing injuries.”
For the study, the researchers analyzed data from 1591 individuals in Quebec, Canada. Data included self-reported cannabis use in the last 12 months at ages 12, 13, 15, and 17 years alongside records of medical care utilization for any mental disorder, suicide-related behaviors, and physical health conditions between ages 18 and 23 years.
Ultimately, youth who started using cannabis before age 15, and who reported frequent use, were significantly more likely to utilize medical care for mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal distress compared to those who did not use the substance. They were also more likely to seek medical attention for physical health conditions, including respiratory problems and injuries.
Those who started using cannabis after age 15 were more likely to use medical care facilities for physical health conditions but not mental health conditions.
“Even when we considered several pre-existing risk factors for cannabis use, we still found increasing risks of using healthcare services for mental and physical health problems for youth with early-onset cannabis use. That suggests cannabis itself may play a role,” said study author, Pablo Martínez, postdoctoral fellow at McGill, in a press release.
It is important to steer youth away from using cannabis too young, said Orri. He added that public health initiatives should focus on identifying young people who are more likely to start early and frequent use as they may benefit from clinical interventions to reduce long-term risk.
Sources: EurekAlert, JAMA Network Open