ADHD symptoms in college students predict continued cannabis use but not new initiation | Research

The takeaway

Among 4,270 French university students, higher ADHD symptom scores predicted continued cannabis use one year later, but only among those already using cannabis, not new initiators.

University health providers, clinicians treating ADHD in young adults, and substance use prevention researchers.

ADHD symptoms predicted continuation (OR 1.35) but not initiation

What the researchers found

Higher ASRS scores were associated with greater probability of cannabis use after one year (OR 1.24 for occasional use, OR 1.43 for frequent use). Among students who had never used cannabis, ADHD symptoms did not predict initiation. Among those who had used cannabis before, ADHD symptoms predicted continued and more frequent use.

Why it matters

This distinction between initiation and continuation matters for prevention. ADHD symptoms appear to perpetuate cannabis use in those already using rather than drive new users to start.

The numbers in context

4,270 participants. Among all students: OR 1.24 for occasional use, OR 1.43 for frequent use. Among never-users: OR 1.15 (not significant). Among prior users: OR 1.17 (occasional), OR 1.35 (frequent).

How the study worked

Longitudinal cohort study from the French i-Share cohort. 4,270 university students (2,135 never-users and 2,135 prior users) assessed with the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale at baseline, with cannabis use frequency evaluated one year later.

What this study cannot tell us

Self-reported ADHD symptoms, not clinical diagnoses. French university students may not generalize to other populations. One-year follow-up may miss longer-term patterns. Cannabis use frequency self-reported.

How to read the evidence

Large longitudinal cohort with one-year follow-up and validated ADHD screening tool.

When this study was published

Published in 2022, cohort recruited 2013-2020.

The bigger picture

If ADHD symptoms maintain cannabis use rather than cause initiation, interventions targeting cannabis cessation in students with ADHD may be more productive than broad prevention messaging.

Questions still open

Does treating ADHD symptoms reduce cannabis use in this population? What specific ADHD symptoms most strongly predict continued use?

Common questions

Do ADHD symptoms lead to cannabis use?

In this study, ADHD symptoms predicted continued cannabis use in those already using, but did not increase the likelihood of trying cannabis for the first time.

Are college students with ADHD more likely to use cannabis frequently?

Yes. Higher ADHD symptom scores were associated with 43% greater odds of using cannabis more than once a month at one-year follow-up.

Read the original research

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms and cannabis use after one year among students of the i-Share cohort.

European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists, 65(1), 1-18

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Jean, François Arnaud Matthieu; Arsandaux, Julie; Montagni, Ilaria; Collet, Ophélie; Fatséas, Mélina; Auriacombe, Marc; Ramos-Quiroga, Josep Antoni; Côté, Sylvana M; Tzourio, Christophe; Galéra, Cédric. (2022). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms and cannabis use after one year among students of the i-Share cohort.. European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists, 65(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.14