Children and teenagers who smoke marijuana (charas) have a higher risk of developing depression, though whether the drug itself is to blame is not clear.
Children and teenagers who smoke marijuana (charas) have a higher risk of developing depression, though whether the drug itself is to blame is not clear.
Several studies have found an association between marijuana use and high risks of depression and anxiety disorders, but some others have failed to confirm such a link. Moreover, it has been unclear whether marijuana use itself, or some other factor, is responsible for this.
To study this, researchers used data collected from more than 85,088 adults in 17 countries taking part in a World Health Organization mental-health study. The participants were screened for depression spells - persistent feelings of sadness and other symptoms, such as appetite changes and sleep problems, which lasted for at least two weeks - then asked to recall when they had first started having such episodes. Those who said they were 17 years or older when their depression first hit were considered cases. Across the countries, 9,647 participants met that definition and were compared with the 41,000-plus men and women who had no current or past depression.
Of the depression group, 9 percent said they had smoked marijuana before the age of 17 years, while the same was true of 7 percent of the comparison group. A modest association was found between marijuana smoking before the age of 17 years and the chances of suffering depression later on. Across the countries, early marijuana use was linked to a 50 percent increase in the risk of developing a depression spell after age 17. The connection remained when factors like participants' self-reported recent marijuana use, smoking and drinking habits, and history of mental health problems like phobias and anxiety were taken into account. The strength of the marijuana-depression link did weaken, however, when the researchers factored in childhood conduct problems - like skipping school, getting into fights and shoplifting.
It was concluded that conduct problems may partially explain the relationship between early marijuana smoking and later depression. More studies are still needed, however, to see whether marijuana use does precede the development of mental health problems in some children.
Several studies have found an association between marijuana use and high risks of depression and anxiety disorders, but some others have failed to confirm such a link. Moreover, it has been unclear whether marijuana use itself, or some other factor, is responsible for this.
To study this, researchers used data collected from more than 85,088 adults in 17 countries taking part in a World Health Organization mental-health study. The participants were screened for depression spells - persistent feelings of sadness and other symptoms, such as appetite changes and sleep problems, which lasted for at least two weeks - then asked to recall when they had first started having such episodes. Those who said they were 17 years or older when their depression first hit were considered cases. Across the countries, 9,647 participants met that definition and were compared with the 41,000-plus men and women who had no current or past depression.
Of the depression group, 9 percent said they had smoked marijuana before the age of 17 years, while the same was true of 7 percent of the comparison group. A modest association was found between marijuana smoking before the age of 17 years and the chances of suffering depression later on. Across the countries, early marijuana use was linked to a 50 percent increase in the risk of developing a depression spell after age 17. The connection remained when factors like participants' self-reported recent marijuana use, smoking and drinking habits, and history of mental health problems like phobias and anxiety were taken into account. The strength of the marijuana-depression link did weaken, however, when the researchers factored in childhood conduct problems - like skipping school, getting into fights and shoplifting.
It was concluded that conduct problems may partially explain the relationship between early marijuana smoking and later depression. More studies are still needed, however, to see whether marijuana use does precede the development of mental health problems in some children.
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