In the ABCD cohort, early cannabis use by late childhood or early adolescence was associated with specific individual, family, and environmental characteristics.
What the researchers found
Researchers analyzed data from the ABCD study to identify which children were most likely to begin using cannabis by late childhood or early adolescence. Early-onset cannabis use is a known risk factor for later substance use problems and developmental difficulties.
The study identified multiple characteristics associated with early initiation, spanning individual traits, family factors, and environmental influences. These risk factors help build a profile of which young people may be most vulnerable to early cannabis exposure.
Identifying these characteristics before cannabis use begins is valuable because it could inform targeted prevention efforts aimed at the highest-risk populations rather than universal messaging that may be less effective.
Why it matters
Early-onset cannabis use is consistently linked to worse outcomes than initiation in later adolescence or adulthood. Identifying who is most at risk before they start using could allow prevention resources to be directed where they are most needed, potentially reducing the population-level burden of early cannabis exposure.
The numbers in context
The ABCD study enrolled approximately 12,000 children across 21 US sites. Researchers assessed characteristics associated with cannabis initiation by late childhood and early adolescence.
How the study worked
This was a longitudinal cohort analysis using the ABCD study, which enrolled approximately 12,000 children ages 9-10 at 21 sites across the United States. Researchers assessed multiple domains of potential risk factors and tracked which participants initiated cannabis use during the follow-up period through early adolescence.
What this study cannot tell us
The ABCD cohort, while large, may not be fully representative of all US youth. Self-reported cannabis use in children may be underreported due to social desirability bias. The study identified associations with early use but cannot prove these characteristics caused earlier initiation.
How to read the evidence
A large longitudinal cohort study with good methodology for identifying risk factors, though observational design limits causal conclusions.
The bigger picture
As cannabis becomes more accessible through legalization, understanding which young people are most vulnerable to early initiation grows more important. This study provides actionable information for schools, parents, and public health programs seeking to target prevention efforts effectively.
Common questions
Why does early cannabis use matter more than starting later?
Can these risk factors predict who will use cannabis?
Read the original research
Characteristics Associated With Cannabis Use Initiation by Late Childhood and Early Adolescence in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study.
JAMA pediatrics, 177(8), 861-863
Citation
Miller, Alex P; Baranger, David A A; Paul, Sarah E; Hatoum, Alexander S; Rogers, Cynthia; Bogdan, Ryan; Agrawal, Arpana. (2023). Characteristics Associated With Cannabis Use Initiation by Late Childhood and Early Adolescence in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study.. JAMA pediatrics, 177(8), 861-863. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.1801