Cannabis Use Increases Depression and Suicidal Ideation

This article mentions suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call, text, or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

“The frequent use of cannabis is associated with a plethora of negative health and social consequences,” wrote Langlois, Potvin, Khullar, and Tourjman in their 2021 study regarding depression and cannabis.

“There is a growing body of evidence pointing to the co-occurrence of cannabis use and depression,” confirmed  Feingold and Weinstein in the same year. “There is also some evidence that the use of cannabis may lead to the onset of depression; however, strong evidence points to the inverse association, i.e., that depression may lead to the onset or increase in cannabis use frequency.”

New research has now raised more concerns about cannabis use, especially for young users.

“Cannabis use has become increasingly normalized in the United States, and at least half the states have 'medical marijuana' laws,”  wrote Mark Gold, MD, in Psychology Today in July. “This reversed criminalization, but rather than following FDA-like testing and approval, cannabis was suddenly ‘a medicine.’ Access to cannabis or its intoxicant THC has never been greater. Adolescents may not legally purchase cannabis; however, their access has increased.”

Alarmingly, there appears to be a strong relationship between cannabis use and suicidal thinking that can only partly be explained by depression.

“Cannabis is largely unstudied or has failed rigorous medication trials, so its impact on mental health is mostly unknown,” warned Dr. Gold. “However, new findings indicate distressing results, causing experts to call for a reassessment of the risks and benefits of cannabis, as nearly 30 percent of users develop cannabis use disorder (CUD). For adolescent users, risks for addiction are twice that of adults, and after four years, one in five adolescents develop problematic use. Disturbingly, new studies suggest elevated cannabis risks for depression and suicidal thoughts and behaviors, especially in adolescents and young adults.”

Gold pointed to a new review and meta-analysis by Maviel, Somma, et al. that found “a clear relationship between cannabis use and suicidal behaviors.” After adjusting for depression, adolescent cannabis use was significantly associated with increased risks for thinking about suicide and more than double the risk for suicide attempts. Among adolescents, cannabis use was linked to a 1.85 times higher likelihood of attempting suicide.

“Depression may contribute to the relationship between cannabis use and suicidality, but doesn’t fully explain it, suggesting cannabis use poses independent risks for suicidal thoughts and behaviors,” explained Dr. Gold. “Cannabis may act as a catalyst, accelerating depressive processes.’

Recent high-quality studies have reinforced findings that cannabis use during adolescence can predict increases in depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. Gobbi, Atkin, et  al. reported in JAMA Psychiatry that “adolescent cannabis consumption was associated with increased risk of developing depression and suicidal behavior later in life, even in the absence of a premorbid condition.” Cannabis use in adolescence was associated with an increased risk for major depression and suicidal ideation (about 1.5 times greater), and adolescent cannabis use was associated with suicide attempts in young adulthood (3.4 times greater).

A major study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences compared a large sample of hospitalized adolescents with cannabis use disorder (CUD) vs. those without CUD and controlled for depression. Adolescents with CUD had substantially increased odds of suicide attempts and self-harm; the presence of comorbid depression more than doubled risks.

The authors concluded that their study “provides evidence for the association between CUD and suicide risk among hospitalized adolescents and underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing co-occurring mental and substance use disorders along with CUD to mitigate suicide risk.”

A study in Frontiers in Public Health found cannabis use associated with higher risks of major depressive disorder, as well as suicidality. “Another study demonstrated that adolescents with cannabis use disorder (CUD) symptoms were more severely ill than adults, suggesting a developmental vulnerability,” Gold wrote. “Experts concluded youth cannabis use likely fuels depression and suicide in young people.”

FOUNDRY FRONT RANGE TREATS CANNABIS USE DISORDER

NRT Behavioral Health Managing Partner Ben Cort has written two books on the problems associated with today’s high-potency THC products and their effects. Growing evidence demonstrates that consuming today’s highly concentrated cannabis poses significant health risks, from anxiety and depression to cardiac problems to suicidal ideation. A minority of cannabis users will develop cannabis use disorder and its serious effects. However, those who are impacted, and their family members and loved ones, face significant challenges and the same risks associated with other forms of substance use disorder.

NRT Behavioral Health programs, including Foundry Steamboat, Foundry Front Range, and its Intensive Outpatient Program, have specialized expertise in treating cannabis use disorder. Cannabis, which is stored in fat cells, can remain in the body and cause psychoactive effects long after a person stops consuming it. This can lead to residual effects of cannabis that must be stabilized before clients are ready to engage in treatment programming. Specialized medical attention may also be required to help people experiencing severe side effects of cannabis use disorder, like cannabis-induced hyperemesis or psychosis, feel stable and comfortable before entering treatment.

With some of the most experienced clinicians, modern and well-equipped clinical facilities, and leading experts in addiction medicine, Foundry Steamboat represents a good treatment option for people experiencing Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD). To learn more, call us at (844) 955-1066.

‍