New international study reveals cannabis use in adolescence could increase depression and suicidal risk

A study by a team of scientists at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) and McGill University in collaboration with the University of Oxford and Rutgers University-Camden, revealed that cannabis use in adolescence could harmfully alter mental health, even in teenagers who did not report any depressive symptoms before starting cannabis.

The risk is particularly elevated in North America, where adolescents have higher rates of cannabis use compared to their peers in other developed countries. Canadian youth aged 15-25 constitute the majority of users of all ages 20-33 per cent compared to just over 20 percent in the US.

The adolescent brainis still under development until the age of 25

According to Dr. Nancy Mayo, a scientist at the RI-MUHC, 25,000 young Canadians and 400,000 young Americans suffer from depression because of earlier cannabis consumption.

The findings highlight the importance of educating teenagers on the risks associated with cannabis use while teaching them skills to resist peer pressure.

Source: MUHC Newsroom