Is there a link between teen marijuana use and schizophrenia? Given the widespread legalization of marijuana in the United States, and the increased acceptance of the drug as a result, experts are continuing to examine the connection. And the research suggests a clear association, particularly when adolescents are already at risk for the disorder.
Specifically, studies show that people who use marijuana are more likely to develop temporary cannabis-induced psychosis, with symptoms like hallucinations, paranoia, and detachment from reality. In addition, teens who use marijuana appear to be at increased risk for serious mental illnesses, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
In fact, a new study found that about 80 percent of teens who were hospitalized or visited an emergency room for a psychotic disorder had previously reported cannabis use. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the research on cannabis and psychosis.
What You’ll Learn
- Can THC cause psychosis?
- Does cannabis use increase the likelihood that adolescents will develop schizophrenia or bipolar disorder?
- Do individuals with schizophrenia use marijuana at higher rates?
- What are the symptoms of psychosis?
How Many Teens Use Marijuana?
This issue of cannabis and psychosis is garnering attention due to the high number of teenagers who use weed. According to the CDC’s most recent research on teen marijuana use, 16 percent of high school students use marijuana regularly. In addition to vaping or smoking marijuana, teens and young adults also consume marijuana edibles, which are easier to get than ever before due to widespread marijuana legalization.
Increased use and higher potency of marijuana is leading to higher rates of cannabis-induced psychosis in adolescents. About a third of teens (ages 14–18) who use cannabis report experiencing hallucinations or paranoia. In general, the overall increase in cannabis use is leading to more psychotic disorders and other cannabis-induced mental health disorders. A new study conducted by the healthcare-analytics company Truveta shows that diagnoses for cannabis-induced disorders were more than 50 percent higher in 2023 than in 2019.
Does Smoking Weed Cause Schizophrenia?
Researchers are looking at a number of questions related to the cannabis-schizophrenia link. Firstly, does cannabis use cause an increased risk of this mental illness? Second, can teen cannabis use trigger schizophrenia symptoms in an apparently healthy adolescent? Let’s look at some of the studies on the link between THC and schizophrenia, and whether cannabis can cause a psychotic disorder.
A large body of research suggests that THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, can cause temporary psychotic symptoms. (CBD, which is not psychoactive, and THC, are two of the primary chemicals in marijuana.) As far as the link between marijuana and schizophrenia, many researchers believe that cannabis use may be what’s known as a “component cause.”
Risk Factors for Teen Schizophrenia
The research indicates that marijuana use can cause teen schizophrenia if the adolescent is already at risk for the disorder. Moreover, the likelihood of marijuana causing schizophrenia or psychosis seems to depend on various criteria. These include the strength of the drug, how often a teen uses marijuana, and how long they use it over time.
In addition, experiencing symptoms of psychosis after using marijuana increases the risk of developing a mental health disorder. According to a study in the American Journal of Psychiatry, individuals who have even one psychotic episode following cannabis use have a 47 percent higher chance of developing schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. And adolescents and young adults are at the highest risk.
Furthermore, the study found that people who self-harmed after a cannabis-induced psychotic episode were more likely to develop schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Additional Marijuana and Schizophrenia Research Findings
Additional research strengthens the body of evidence supporting the weed-schizophrenia link. According to a 2021 study in Denmark, the proportion of people who develop schizophrenia associated with cannabis use disorder has increased by three to four times during the past two decades.
In 1995, 2 percent of schizophrenia diagnoses in the country were associated with cannabis use disorder. In 2000, it increased to around 4 percent. Since 2010, that figure has increased to 8 percent. The researchers attribute this increase to the rise in the use and potency of marijuana.
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A 2018 study published in the Journal of Molecular Psychiatry also examined the association between marijuana and schizophrenia. This study clearly found that the cannabis-schizophrenia relationship is causal and suggested that this evidence should inform policies and public health messaging about weed use, especially in reference to its potential mental health consequences.
In fact, another study on cannabis and schizophrenia found that cannabis use doubles the risk of developing psychosis in vulnerable people. Moreover, it showed a relationship between the onset of schizophrenia and the age when a person first starts using marijuana—the younger the smoker, the higher the risk.
“Our research demonstrates that cannabis has a differential risk on susceptible versus non-susceptible individuals. In other words, young people with a genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia—those who have psychiatric disorders in their families—should bear in mind that they’re playing with fire if they smoke pot during adolescence.”
Dr. Ron Barzilay, Tel Aviv University’s Sackler School of Medicine
Smoking Weed with Schizophrenia
The question, “Does smoking weed cause schizophrenia?” is a nuanced one. However, the statistics are clear on another correlation between schizophrenia and marijuana: People with schizophrenia or with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia are more likely to start using marijuana, use it more regularly, and consume more of it over their lifetime.
Published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, a recent marijuana and schizophrenia research study used genetic data from the DNA ancestry database 23andMe. Researchers found a significant genetic correlation that indicates a higher probability of cannabis use by people with schizophrenia or emerging schizophrenia symptoms.
According to another study conducted in the Netherlands, cannabis users with schizophrenia are more sensitive than healthy individuals to both the positive and negative effects of the drug. Although smoking weed made the subjects with schizophrenia feel better temporarily, it markedly worsened their psychotic symptoms.
What Are the Symptoms of Schizophrenia?
It’s important to be familiar with the mental health disorder called schizophrenia and the psychotic symptoms that accompany this mental illness. The word schizophrenia has its roots in German and roughly translates as “a splitting of the mind.” People with schizophrenia have trouble processing emotions. They may have delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech. At times they may be completely detached from reality. Cannabis-induced psychosis can produce many of these symptoms.
Furthermore, schizophrenia behaviors usually begin to develop in adolescence or young adulthood. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, symptoms of schizophrenia often start when people are under age 30. Learning more about the disease, and how it can be detected, may help parents provide needed care to their teens with schizophrenia.
Early Signs of Schizophrenia
If an adolescent does not have a genetic susceptibility to the disorder, teen cannabis use is not likely to lead to the onset of schizophrenia symptoms. However, there is no test for such a genetic susceptibility, and schizophrenia does not necessarily run in families. Therefore, it’s difficult to know whether or not a teenager is susceptible to psychiatric disorders involving psychosis.
However, parents can watch for warning signs. Most people with schizophrenia receive their schizophrenia diagnosis in adolescence or young adulthood. Moreover, onset is usually earlier in men than in women. Early symptoms may include the following:
- Depression
- Withdrawing from relationships and social activities
- Trouble expressing emotion appropriately
- Insomnia or sleeping too much
- Talking in strange or irrational ways
- Forgetfulness and inability to concentrate
- Acting suspicious or hostile
- Decline in personal hygiene
These warning signs indicate that a teen or young adult should have a professional mental health assessment. A mental health professional can determine whether a teen meets the criteria for a schizophrenia diagnosis. Treating schizophrenia is typically a multifaceted process involving therapy, medication, and supportive changes in lifestyle and habits.
Education on Schizophrenia and Marijuana Is Essential
To summarize, marijuana does not in itself cause a teen to develop schizophrenia. But research on THC and schizophrenia strongly suggests that cannabis can trigger psychotic symptoms when an individual is already predisposed to the disorder.
Therefore, parents should protect their children by educating them thoroughly about the link between schizophrenia and marijuana and becoming educated themselves. Both parents and teens should understand the schizophrenia-weed link and the potential for experiencing drug-induced psychosis.
Moreover, it’s not just the THC and schizophrenia association that is concerning. The American Psychiatric Association states that cannabis may also exacerbate or trigger the start of other mental health issues, particularly in young people. And for teens with depression, cannabis use can create an increased risk of suicidal ideation and attempts.
Teen Substance Use Disorder Treatment at Newport Academy
Newport Academy treats teen substance use disorders, including marijuana use and teen cannabis disorder, alongside treatment for mental health issues, such as trauma, depression, and/or anxiety disorders. Our medical and clinical experts guide teens to address the root causes of problem substance use. We use individualized treatment plans that incorporate a wide range of evidence-based modalities.
During their time with us, teens heal past trauma, learn healthy ways to navigate emotional pain, and build authentic connections with themselves, peers, and family. Our adolescent clients go on to achieve long-term, sustainable healing from substance use issues and the underlying mental health issues.
If your teen and family are struggling, Newport Academy can help. Contact us today to learn more about our clinical model for treating substance use disorders in adolescents.
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