Can Cannabis Lead to Suicidal Ideation?

Research shows that cannabis use may be associated with suicidal tendencies in young adults, regardless of their depression status.

An analysis of data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) showed that suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts increased in the range of 40% to 60% over the last decade. This goes beyond either due to cannabis use or major depression. In episode (MDE) alone, Bethe Han, MD, PhD, MPH and others from the National Institute of Substance Abuse in Bethesda, Maryland reported.

Comparing the start (2008-2009) and end (2018-2019) of the study period, adjusted risk of 1.4 (95% CI 1.3-1.5) for suicidal ideation and 1.6 (95% CI 1.5-1.9) for suicide The ratio became clear.After controlling planning and attempted suicide 1.4 (95% CI 1.2-1.7), MDE, cannabis use disorder (CUD), cannabis use status, and other potential confounders, the group JAMA network open..

Data collected from more than 280,000 young adults between the ages of 18 and 34 show that a wide range of cannabis consumption, from CUD to non-daily cannabis use, has a higher prevalence of suicidal ideation and behavior in both men and women. It was also shown to be related to. It was more important in women.

Among respondents without MDE, the prevalence of suicidal ideation in women with and without CUD was 13.9% and 3.5%, respectively.These rates were 9.9% and 3% among men, respectively. (P<0.001). Women diagnosed with both CUD and MDE were found to have a 52% higher (23.7%) suicide planning rate than men with CUD and MDE (15.6%). P<0.001).

In context, the authors state that young adults have seen a total increase in CUD, almost daily cannabis use, MDE diagnosis, and suicide thoughts since 2008. According to recent reports, the number of adults aged 18 to 34 who died from suicide between 2008 and 2019 also increased by 51.9% (1,569 to 2,384) in women and 44.9% (7,266 to 10,529) in men. CDC data..

“Although suicidal-prone adults and adults who die from suicide may be in different groups, although they are interrelated, our results show that women have a relatively higher rate of suicidal deaths than men. This is consistent with the potential role of cannabis use and CUD in relation to that, “Han and colleagues wrote.

Notably, high school students who reported daily cannabis intake were the only socio-demographic subgroup with no suicidal ideation and increased planning.

NSDUH collected data through a face-to-face household interview survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Department using a stratified, multi-stage regional probability sample designed to represent each state. Of the 281,650 adults aged 18-34 years sampled from NSDUH in 2008-2019, 50.1% were female and 49.9% were male.

The results suggest that “adults with MDE may be particularly vulnerable to cannabis use as their beliefs about their therapeutic potential become more widespread and their products more accessible. The authors warned. Still, they said, “depression and cannabis use are associated with suicide, but do not appear to be the only cause of the increasing trend of suicide in young adults.”

Han et al. Admitted that the use of NSDUH imposes various restrictions on the investigation, including the inability to explain those who are experiencing homelessness who do not live in shelters, those who are active in the military, and those who are institutionalized. I did. The authors called for further research using longitudinal data to investigate and confirm their findings.

If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).