Association of Cannabis Use With Self-harm and Mortality Risk Among Youths With Mood Disorders
Source: JAMA Pediatrics
Resource Type: Documents and Publications
Focus Population: BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), People in Recovery from Substance Use, Youth, Youth of Transition Age
Topics: Behavioral Health Organizational Guidance Docs, Suicide Postvention, Suicide Prevention
Cannabis is the most frequently used illicit drug taken by US youth and the drug most commonly presented by youth who seek drug treatment. The study found significantly higher rates of non-fatal self-harm and deaths in a subset of teens with mood disorders who were active cannabis users. This was particularly true for African-American youth and youth in foster care. These facts should be considered by policy makers and health care professionals in states considering legalization of marijuana.