Adolescent Substance Abuse Articles
Cannabis use may lead to the development of psychotic symptoms
By Staff Writer
In a recent study, European researchers identified a link between cannabis use in one's youth and the risk for psychotic disorder later in life.
The research, which appears in the British Medical Journal, was designed to investigate the connection between cannabis use and psychotic symptoms over a 10-year period. Researchers used a random sample of 1,923 individuals between the age of 14 and 24, and excluded anybody who reported pre-existing signs of a psychotic disorder or previous use of the substance.
Participants were assessed for cannabis use and psychotic symptoms three times over the next 10 years. By study's end, the researchers found that cannabis use almost doubled the risk of psychotic symptoms later in life. Increased use of the substance was also linked to a greater risk of developing the symptoms.
For the researchers, these findings help to clarify the link between cannabis use and psychotic symptoms. The results also confirmed the substance's status as an environmental risk factor for the persistence of psychotic experiences.
As the most commonly used drug in the world, many may be at risk of developing these psychotic symptoms. Individuals who wish to abstain from cannabis might want to seek treatment from a drug rehab facility.
