Early Marijuana Use Leads To Depression? Probably Not
Joe | Jul 06, 2010 | Comments 0
You have to love these studies. The headlines tell you that cannabis has been linked to another disorder; then when you read the story, the phrases “the study suggests,” “may be caused,” and “not clear,” pop up a lot in the text. Like this new study that links marijuana use early in life to depression.
Several studies have found an association between marijuana use and increased risks of depression and anxiety disorders, but some others have failed to confirm such a link. Moreover, it has been unclear whether marijuana use itself, or some other factor, accounts for the connection seen in some studies.
So only some studies find an association between cannabis and depression and anxiety disorders, and even in those studies it’s unclear whether cannabis is the cause. Seriously? How is that a news story on one of the biggest news wires in the world? There were problems with this study in particular.
Overall, the researchers found a modest association between marijuana smoking before the age of 17 and the odds of suffering depression later on. Across the countries, early marijuana use was linked to a 50 percent increase in the risk of developing a depression “spell” after age 17.
The connection remained when the researchers accounted for a number of other factors, including participants’ self-reported recent marijuana use, smoking and drinking habits, and history of mental health problems like phobias and anxiety.
The strength of the marijuana-depression link did weaken, however, when the investigators factored in childhood conduct problems — like skipping school, getting into fights and shoplifting.
And:
The study has other key limitations as well. One is that participants were surveyed at a single point rather than followed over time, which is the best way to gauge which came first — the drug use or the depression.
Instead, the study participants were screened for depression “spells” — persistent feelings of sadness and other symptoms, such as appetite changes and sleep problems, that lasted for at least two weeks — then asked to recall when they had first started having such episodes.
Plus:
This type of study design cannot prove that marijuana itself contributed to the increased risk of depression. It may be, for instance, that young people who are vulnerable to developing depression or other mental health problems are also more likely to use marijuana.
Look, the economy is bad everywhere and everyone needs to put food on the table. Some people spend their time doing studies that come to no conclusions. Does marijuana cause depression? They don’t have the faintest idea. But I bet they got paid.
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