"The study, led by Dr. Cheryl Foo, analyzed more than 7,000 psychiatric emergency hospital visits before and after recreational cannabis sales began in Massachusetts. "Most remarkably," she said, "the 12- to 17-year-old age group, the teenagers, had the most significant increase in both cannabis use as well as cannabis-related disorders, compared to the other age groups after cannabis commercialization began." She continued, "That's very concerning.""
"Foo argued that increased availability, easier access, youth-targeted advertising, greater social acceptability, and accidental ingestion all partly contribute to this increase post-commercialization. The findings are in contrast to the household surveys that suggested "kids are OK," Foo said. The surveys "didn't match up with the clinical population that I work with," Foo said. Foo and her co-authors noted increases in amount of cannabis use across all age groups of people presenting with psychiatric emergencies, but the increase was most pronounced among teenagers, including those below the legal age."
More than 7,000 psychiatric emergency hospital visits were analyzed before and after recreational cannabis sales began in Massachusetts. Teenagers aged 12 to 17 showed the largest increase in cannabis use and cannabis-related disorders compared with other age groups. Increased availability, easier access, youth-targeted advertising, greater social acceptability, and accidental ingestion are cited as contributing factors. Household surveys indicating stable youth use did not match clinical presentations. Early and frequent use of high-potency cannabis products can harm cognitive health and raise the likelihood of psychosis and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The Cannabis Control Commission says no causal link has been proven between commercialization and increased youth psychosis.
Read at Boston.com
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