Cannabis Use Linked to Depression and Anxiety in Sexual Minority Young Men | Research

The takeaway

Among sexual and gender minority young adults assigned male at birth, cannabis use was significantly associated with both depression and anxiety, alongside high overall rates of substance use.

LGBTQ+ health providers, mental health counselors, substance use researchers

Cannabis significantly associated with both depression and anxiety

What the researchers found

Cannabis was among the most commonly used substances (alongside alcohol and tobacco) in this population. Cannabis use was significantly positively associated with both depression and anxiety in adjusted analyses. Alcohol was also associated with both outcomes, while methamphetamine was linked to depression and sedatives to anxiety.

Why it matters

Sexual and gender minority individuals face documented health disparities, and understanding the specific substance-mental health connections in this population can inform targeted interventions.

The numbers in context

Cannabis, alcohol, and tobacco were the most used substances. Cannabis significantly associated with depression and anxiety. Adjusted analyses controlled for demographic variables.

How the study worked

Cross-sectional analysis of data from a randomized clinical trial of a mobile health HIV testing intervention in the US. Linear regression adjusted for demographics examined associations between substance use and mental health outcomes among sexual and gender minority men.

What this study cannot tell us

Cross-sectional design cannot determine causation. Data from an HIV testing trial may not represent all SGM young adults. Cannot distinguish whether cannabis use caused, resulted from, or simply co-occurred with mental health symptoms.

How to read the evidence

Moderate: clinical trial data with adjusted analyses, but cross-sectional measurement and specific population context

When this study was published

Published in 2025

The bigger picture

The high prevalence of substance use and mental health symptoms in this population reflects broader health inequities. Tailored interventions addressing both substance use and mental health simultaneously may be more effective than treating them separately.

Questions still open

Does cannabis use worsen mental health in this population, or is it used as a coping mechanism? Would targeted interventions reduce both substance use and mental health symptoms?

Common questions

Is cannabis use more common among LGBTQ+ young adults?

Research consistently shows higher rates of substance use among sexual and gender minority populations compared to heterosexual peers. This study found high prevalence of cannabis, alcohol, and tobacco use in this group.

Does cannabis cause depression in this population?

This study found an association but cannot determine direction. Cannabis use may contribute to mental health symptoms, people with depression may use cannabis to cope, or both may share common causes like minority stress.

Read the original research

Prevalence and Patterns of Substance Use Among Sexual and Gender Minority Young Adults Assigned Male at Birth and Their Relationship With Mental Health Problems.

AIDS education and prevention : official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education, 37(6), 397-412

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Belloir, Joseph; Myers, Thomas; Scherr, Thomas; Almodovar, Michael; Kuhns, Lisa; Garofalo, Robert; Schnall, Rebecca. (2025). Prevalence and Patterns of Substance Use Among Sexual and Gender Minority Young Adults Assigned Male at Birth and Their Relationship With Mental Health Problems.. AIDS education and prevention : official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education, 37(6), 397-412. https://doi.org/10.1521/aeap.2025.37.6.397