High Potency Cannabis Use in Teens Doubles Risk of Psychotic Episodes

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by Medical Daily.

Regular cannabis use is associated with the risk of mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. The use of high-potency cannabis in teen years almost doubles the risk of developing psychotic episodes in early adulthood compared to the use of those with lower potency, a study revealed.

Earlier studies have shown that the concentration of THC, the main psychoactive component of cannabis, has increased by 14% in the last five decades. In the latest study from the University of Bath published in the scientific journal, Addiction, researchers examined the link between early adolescent psychosis and cannabis potency.

The researchers used the Children of the 90s study, which had data of around 14,000 individuals from the time of their birth. The participants were asked about their cannabis use between the ages of 16 to 18. They were also inquired about the primary cannabis type and incidence of psychotic experiences such as hallucinations or delusions by the age of 24.

“Young people using higher-potency forms of cannabis are twice as likely to have experiences associated with psychosis, such as hallucinations and delusions. Importantly, the young people we asked had not previously reported these experiences before starting their cannabis use. This adds to the evidence that use of higher-potency cannabis may negatively impact mental health,” the lead author, Dr. Lindsey Hines from the University of Bath Department of Psychology, said in a news release.

Source: Medical Daily
https://www.medicaldaily.com/high-potency-cannabis-use-teens-doubles-risk-psychotic-episodes-study-471738