Among 1,462 high school students in Colombia, lifetime cannabis use was associated with nearly twice the odds of high suicide risk after adjusting for other variables.
Adolescent health researchers, mental health professionals working with youth
Adjusted OR = 1.88 for high suicide risk among lifetime cannabis users
What the researchers found
Lifetime cannabis use prevalence was 11.6% and high suicide risk was 13.3%. Cannabis use was associated with high suicide risk after adjustment (OR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.23-2.88).
Why it matters
This provides data on cannabis-suicide associations in a Latin American adolescent population, where such research has been limited.
The numbers in context
1,462 students; mean age 14.4 years; 60.3% female; 11.6% lifetime cannabis use; 13.3% high suicide risk; adjusted OR = 1.88 (95% CI: 1.23-2.88).
How the study worked
Cross-sectional study with probabilistic sample of 1,462 high school students aged 13-17 in Santa Marta, Colombia. Suicide risk quantified using the CES-D suicide ideation scale, with scores above 8 categorized as high risk.
What this study cannot tell us
Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference; single Colombian city may not generalize; self-reported measures; did not account for polysubstance use; lifetime cannabis use measure does not distinguish frequency or recency.
How to read the evidence
Single cross-sectional study in one Colombian city with self-reported measures and no control for polysubstance use.
When this study was published
Published in 2020.
The bigger picture
While several studies have found associations between adolescent cannabis use and suicidal ideation, cross-sectional designs cannot determine whether cannabis contributes to suicide risk or whether shared underlying factors drive both.
Questions still open
- Would this association hold after controlling for other substance use? Does the relationship reflect shared risk factors rather than a direct cannabis effect?
Common questions
Does this prove cannabis causes suicidal thoughts in teenagers?
How does this compare to findings in other countries?
Read the original research
Association between the use of Cannabis and elevated suicide risk in high school adolescents from Santa Marta, Colombia.
Biomedica : revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud, 40(3), 569-577
Citation
Campo-Arias, Adalberto; Suárez-Colorado, Yuly Paola; Caballero-Domínguez, Carmen Cecilia. (2020). Association between the use of Cannabis and elevated suicide risk in high school adolescents from Santa Marta, Colombia.. Biomedica : revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud, 40(3), 569-577. https://doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.4988
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