Teen Marijuana Use and Its Connection to Adult Depression

According to recent data, 14% of eighth graders, 32% of tenth graders, and 43% of twelfth graders have tried marijuana at least once. Meanwhile, a study recently published in the medical journal JAMA Psychiatry shows that using marijuana before the age of 18 is associated with a 40% increased risk of developing depression and a 50% higher risk of having suicidal thoughts in adulthood.

The study leaves open the classic “chicken or the egg” question: Does cannabis use cause depression, or does the onset of depression lead to marijuana use? While the answer remains unclear, the correlation is strong enough to link these phenomena.