Nondisordered Cannabis Use Among US Adolescents

Area of Science:

• Adolescent health
• Psychosocial outcomes
• Cannabis use research

Background:

• Cannabis use is increasingly perceived as low-risk by adolescents.
• While cannabis use disorder (CUD) is linked to adverse outcomes, the impact of nondisordered cannabis use (NDCU) is less understood.
• Adolescents with NDCU face increased risks for negative psychosocial events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and demographics of NDCU in adolescents.
• To compare the associations between cannabis use (nonuse, NDCU, CUD) and adverse psychosocial events.
• To investigate the relationship between subclinical cannabis use and negative psychosocial outcomes in youth.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study utilizing a nationally representative sample from the 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
• Analysis included 68,263 adolescents aged 12-17, categorized into nonuse, NDCU, and CUD groups.
• NDCU was defined as recent cannabis use not meeting DSM-5 CUD criteria; CUD was defined using DSM-5 criteria.

Main Results:

• NDCU was found in 10.2% of adolescents, approximately 4 times more prevalent than CUD (2.5%).
• Adolescents with NDCU had 2 to 4 times greater odds of experiencing adverse psychosocial events, including depression, suicidal ideation, and concentration difficulties.
• Prevalence of adverse events increased in a stepwise manner from nonuse to NDCU to CUD.

Conclusions:

• Past-year NDCU is significantly more prevalent than CUD among US adolescents.
• A clear gradient of increased risk for adverse psychosocial events exists from nonuse to NDCU to CUD.
• Further research on NDCU is crucial given the normalization of cannabis use in the US.