Researchers find that teenagers under 18 who use cannabis could be 37% more likely to develop depression in early adulthood. This means that the recreational drug could be the cause of around 60,000 cases of depression in the UK.
Attitudes towards cannabis are generally pretty relaxed in England with one in nine people admitting to using the drug; despite the drug being classed as a category B illegal substance. But is this relaxed approach resulting in depression in later life?
Cannabis Study
We have all heard of the link between cannabis and psychotic mental health disorders such as schizophrenia, but a new study shows that young users of the drug could also be at risk of further damage to the developing brain.
Researchers from McGill University in Canada, Rutgers University in the US and the University of Oxford in the UK analysed 11 studies to see if cannabis usage in young people is linked to depression, anxiety and suicides in early adulthood.
The risk of developing depression was more then a third higher amongst those who smoked cannabis at a young age. The chance of having suicidal thoughts was 50% higher and the chance of attempting suicide was almost four times higher. Although the study cannot determine that cannabis is the cause of depression and suicidal thoughts, the evidence showed a significant link.
Advice and help
More information explaining the risks of using cannabis as a recreational drug can be found on the NHS website. To seek help or advice for drug addiction contact Talk to Frank.