The link between cannabis use and mental health problems in college students grew substantially from 2009 to 2019
Among over 323,000 US college students surveyed from 2009 to 2019, the association between cannabis use and depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation strengthened substantially over the decade.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Cannabis use was associated with greater odds of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among US post-secondary students. Critically, the strength of this association increased substantially over the 2009-2019 period, more so than for heavy drinking or cigarette smoking.
Key Numbers
323,896 students from 2009-2019; cannabis association with mental health concerns strengthened substantially over time; heavy drinking association strengthened modestly; smoking association remained stable
How They Did This
Weighted two-level logistic regression models with time-by-substance interaction terms applied to data from 323,896 students participating in the Healthy Minds Study, a national cross-sectional survey of US post-secondary students, collected annually from 2009 to 2019.
Why This Research Matters
The strengthening association between cannabis and mental health problems among college students coincides with increasing cannabis potency and legalization, raising questions about whether changing cannabis products or patterns are contributing to worse mental health outcomes.
The Bigger Picture
While cannabis legalization and use have expanded among young adults, this study suggests the relationship between cannabis and mental health problems is intensifying rather than remaining stable, warranting attention from college health systems.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design at each time point cannot determine causation; self-reported substance use and mental health; cannot distinguish whether cannabis contributes to mental health problems or vice versa; survey methodology changes over time could influence trends
Questions This Raises
- ?Is the strengthening association driven by increasing cannabis potency, more frequent use, or changes in the population of cannabis users?
- ?Would harm reduction interventions on college campuses reduce the co-occurrence of cannabis use and mental health problems?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 323,896 students surveyed over a decade
- Evidence Grade:
- Very large national dataset with appropriate statistical modeling, though cross-sectional design at each time point limits causal inference.
- Study Age:
- 2024 publication analyzing 2009-2019 data
- Original Title:
- Trends in the co-occurrence of substance use and mental health symptomatology in a national sample of US post-secondary students from 2009 to 2019.
- Published In:
- Journal of American college health : J of ACH, 72(6), 1911-1924 (2024)
- Authors:
- Halladay, Jillian(6), Freibott, Christina E, Lipson, Sarah K, Zhou, Sasha, Eisenberg, Daniel
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05366
Evidence Hierarchy
Watches what happens naturally without intervening.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How did the cannabis-mental health link change over time?
While cannabis use was associated with higher odds of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation throughout the study period, this association grew substantially stronger from 2009 to 2019. The strengthening was more pronounced for cannabis than for heavy drinking or cigarette smoking.
What does this mean for college students?
The findings suggest that co-occurring cannabis use and mental health problems are becoming more common among college students. The study authors recommend colleges prioritize early identification, psychoeducation, harm reduction, and brief interventions for students at risk.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05366APA
Halladay, Jillian; Freibott, Christina E; Lipson, Sarah K; Zhou, Sasha; Eisenberg, Daniel. (2024). Trends in the co-occurrence of substance use and mental health symptomatology in a national sample of US post-secondary students from 2009 to 2019.. Journal of American college health : J of ACH, 72(6), 1911-1924. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2098030
MLA
Halladay, Jillian, et al. "Trends in the co-occurrence of substance use and mental health symptomatology in a national sample of US post-secondary students from 2009 to 2019.." Journal of American college health : J of ACH, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2098030
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Trends in the co-occurrence of substance use and mental heal..." RTHC-05366. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/halladay-2024-trends-in-the-cooccurrence
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.