Think cannabis is harmless once you’re an adult? Think again.
New research shows that while teenage toking might not derail your life, lighting up at 30 could come with serious consequences.
Eye-opening insights
Lately, there’s been a lot of talk and concern about ‘scromiting,’ a disturbing health trend linked to teen marijuana use. The term combines ‘screaming’ and ‘vomiting,’ and it’s gaining more attention as cases continue to rise.
And the question of cannabis and its health effects is especially relevant today, as more U.S. states and countries like Canada and Uruguay have legalized it.
Researchers at Mass General Brigham in the U.S. suggests that the legalization of recreational cannabis in Massachusetts may be linked to a sharp rise in cannabis-related psychiatric visits among young people at the hospital’s psychiatric emergency department, according to News Medical.
And a study out of Australia has some more, eye-opening insights for cannabis users — and the takeaway might surprise you. Researchers from the University of Queensland found that smoking weed in your youth isn’t necessarily a life-ruiner, but continuing into adulthood could come with consequences.
8,000 mothers and 2,000 children
Published in Addiction Research & Theory in 2022, the study examined long-term life outcomes for both cannabis and amphetamine users. Using data from over 8,000 mothers and 2,000 children, the researchers tracked drug use at ages 21 and 30, measuring “success” through nine factors including education, income, home ownership, relationship status, and self-reported happiness.
The results? Young adults who experimented with drugs early but stopped before 30 generally fared well. But continued use into adulthood correlated with lower life success across those measures.
SEE CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE
