Synthetic Cannabinoid Use Linked to 48% Higher Concussion Risk in Teen Athletes | Research

The takeaway

Adolescents who used synthetic cannabinoids like Spice or K2 had 48% higher odds of sports-related concussion compared to non-users, independent of alcohol and marijuana use — suggesting these products impair athletic safety.

Sports medicine physicians, school athletic trainers, parents, athletic directors, and adolescent health professionals.

What the researchers found

Synthetic cannabinoid use was associated with 48% higher odds of sports-related TBI (AOR=1.48, 95% CI=1.30-1.70), with TBI prevalence of 22.9% among SC users vs. 12.4% among non-users. Natural marijuana use was also a significant but weaker predictor (AOR=1.16).

Why it matters

Synthetic cannabinoids are cheap, evade standard drug tests, and may impair coordination and reaction time more severely than natural cannabis — creating a hidden safety risk in youth sports.

The numbers in context

N=27,482; 6.0% SC use; 13% sports TBI; SC users: 22.9% TBI vs 12.4% non-users; SC AOR=1.48; marijuana AOR=1.16; alcohol AOR=1.75; boys AOR=1.38

How the study worked

Analysis of 2017-2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data (n=27,482 nationally representative adolescents), using weighted multivariable logistic regression examining lifetime synthetic cannabinoid use and self-reported past-year sports-related concussion.

What this study cannot tell us

Cross-sectional design; self-reported outcomes; cannot determine temporal relationship; lifetime SC use may not reflect use during sports; concussion self-report may be inaccurate; potential confounding from risk-taking behavior generally.

How to read the evidence

Large nationally representative sample with appropriate adjustment, but cross-sectional design and self-reported measures limit causal inference.

When this study was published

Published 2026; uses 2017-2021 YRBS data.

The bigger picture

As synthetic cannabinoids evade standard sports physicals and drug tests, incorporating specific SC screening questions could help identify athletes at higher concussion risk.

Questions still open

Do synthetic cannabinoids impair athletic performance more than natural cannabis? Would SC-specific drug testing at sports physicals reduce injuries? Are there cumulative effects of SC use and repeated concussions?

Common questions

Do synthetic cannabinoids increase concussion risk?

This national study found that teens who used synthetic cannabinoids (Spice, K2) had 48% higher odds of sports-related concussion, even after accounting for alcohol and marijuana use — suggesting these products pose unique athletic safety risks.

Should sports physicals screen for synthetic cannabinoid use?

This study supports it — since 6% of teens reported SC use and these users had nearly double the concussion rate, asking about SC use during pre-sport evaluations could help identify at-risk athletes.

Read the original research

Synthetic Cannabinoid Use and Sports-Related Concussion Risk Among US Adolescents: Implications for School Health Screening and Prevention.

The Journal of school health, 96(2), e70112

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Kalra, Saurabh; Nagaraja, Nandakumar; Kalra, Deepak. (2026). Synthetic Cannabinoid Use and Sports-Related Concussion Risk Among US Adolescents: Implications for School Health Screening and Prevention.. The Journal of school health, 96(2), e70112. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.70112