Early Marijuana Use Linked to 3x Higher Odds of Suicidal Thoughts in Black College Students | Research

The takeaway

African American college students who started marijuana before age 14 were three times as likely to report suicidal ideation.

Suicide prevention researchers; campus counselors; HBCU health services.

3.33x higher odds of suicidal ideation with early onset use

What the researchers found

19% reported suicidal ideation, 28% reported early onset use. Early onset users were 3.33x more likely to report suicidal ideation (AOR=3.33, 95% CI 1.06-10.44) after controlling for demographics and mental health treatment.

Why it matters

Suicide rates among Black youth ages 15-24 rose 47% for males and 59% for females between 2013-2019. Early marijuana use may be a modifiable risk factor.

The numbers in context

221 students. 19% suicidal ideation. 28% early onset use. AOR=3.33 (95% CI 1.06-10.44).

How the study worked

Cross-sectional survey of 221 African American HBCU students (70% female, mean age 20.3). Multivariable logistic regression.

What this study cannot tell us

Cross-sectional. Wide confidence interval. Small sample. Retrospective recall. Single HBCU.

How to read the evidence

Small cross-sectional study with wide confidence intervals.

When this study was published

2025 study

The bigger picture

Research on suicide risk factors in Black youth remains sparse. Early marijuana use may be one modifiable target for prevention.

Questions still open

Does early use contribute to suicidal thinking, or do shared factors explain both? Would delaying initiation reduce risk?

Common questions

Does early marijuana use cause suicidal thoughts?

This study shows an association only. Other factors could explain both early use and suicidal ideation.

Why focus on early onset?

The adolescent brain is still developing, and early substance use may disrupt neurodevelopment.

Read the original research

Early onset marijuana use and suicidal ideation among African American college students.

Journal of ethnicity in substance abuse, 24(2), 518-532

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Floyd, Leah J. (2025). Early onset marijuana use and suicidal ideation among African American college students.. Journal of ethnicity in substance abuse, 24(2), 518-532. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332640.2023.2239741