- What are the negative effects of cannabis use in adolescence?
- Is there a level of cannabis consumption that is considered safe?
- At what point is cannabis use considered to be risky?
- Why has cannabis use become so widespread among young people?
- Does consuming alcohol lead to consuming more cannabis?
- Are there protective and preventative factors against cannabis use that depend on the family?
- If we suspect our son or daughter is smoking marijuana, how can we address the issue at home and what advice can we give them?
- What signs might indicate that our son or daughter has a problem with cannabis?
- Where can I get urine tests to find out if there has been cannabis use?
- Cannabis can be found in different products; are these safer than smoking?
- What can we do to prevent cannabis use in schools?
- What are the risks of cannabis use for mental health, both for occasional and continuous use?
- What is the relationship between smoking marijuana and the onset of psychosis?
- Are there any brief interventions we can do with 15-year-old adolescents transitioning from pediatrics to primary care medicine, to detect substance use and provide an initial approach?
- What materials and techniques can I use to address this topic as a primary care professional?
- How do you explain to a teenager with ADHD that they may be more prone to substance abuse than other people without ADHD?
- Is an ADHD diagnosis associated with early onset of substance use?
What are the risks of cannabis use for mental health, both for occasional and continuous use?
The psychological impact of cannabis use is particularly significant, given that it is primarily used by young people. It causes difficulties in studying by impairing attention, concentration, abstract thinking, and memory, thus hindering learning. It can cause acute anxiety reactions and, in predisposed individuals, lead to the development of mental disorders.
Cannabis use poses risks to mental health, both with occasional and continued use. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) includes the category of Cannabis Use Disorder, classifying it as mild, moderate, or severe based on symptoms and withdrawal criteria. Withdrawal syndrome can occur upon cessation of use after periods of heavy and prolonged consumption, and may include irritability, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, appetite disturbances, abdominal pain, spasms and tremors, fever, chills, or headache.
The dangers of smoking marijuana during adolescence
Problematic cannabis use is defined as persistent use of the substance despite harmful effects (social, physical or mental health).
Some risks:
- Memory and learning problems.
- Dependence and addiction.
- Emotional disorders: anxiety, depression.
- Fear and panic attacks.
- Bronchopulmonary diseases.
- Heart rhythm disorders: arrhythmias.
- Certain types of cancer.
- Psychosis and schizophrenia.
It is not yet known with certainty whether cannabis is responsible for the illness or if it merely accelerates the onset of something that was already latent in the user, but the result, in either case, is the same: the manifestation of the mental health problem. The earlier consumption begins, the greater the likelihood of altered neuronal communication and the appearance of cognitive or motivational impairments and psychiatric disorders.