Adolescents Were 3x More Likely Than Young Adults to Develop Cannabis Use Disorder Over 12 Months
In a 12-month UK study, being an adolescent (vs. young adult) and having baseline CUD were the only significant predictors of cannabis use disorder severity, with adolescents showing 3.26 times higher odds.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Adolescent age (OR 3.26, p<0.001) and baseline CUD (OR 45.15, p<0.001) predicted higher CUD levels at 12-month follow-up. Frequency of use, gender, problematic alcohol use, tobacco use, negative life events, and COVID-19 lockdown did not significantly predict CUD severity.
Key Numbers
232 participants (50% adolescent, 50% young adult). 12-month follow-up. Adolescent OR=3.26 (p<0.001). Baseline CUD OR=45.15 (p<0.001). Days/week of use, gender, alcohol, tobacco, life events, and COVID lockdown were not significant predictors.
How They Did This
Longitudinal study from the London-based CannTeen study following 232 adolescents (16-17) and young adults (26-29) for 12 months (48%/52% male/female). Half used cannabis 1-7 days/week at baseline. CUD measured via Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview for DSM-5. Ordinal logistic regression tested 8 potential risk factors.
Why This Research Matters
Identifying who is most vulnerable to cannabis use disorder is critical for targeted prevention. This study's finding that age matters more than use frequency challenges assumptions about what drives problematic cannabis use.
The Bigger Picture
The dramatic age effect (adolescents 3x more likely to develop CUD than young adults) supports the neurobiological argument that the developing adolescent brain is more vulnerable to cannabis-related harm, independent of use patterns.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Moderate sample size (232). London-based sample may not generalize broadly. CannTeen study design selected for specific use patterns. 12-month follow-up may not capture longer-term trajectories. COVID-19 may have affected both groups' behaviors.
Questions This Raises
- ?What neurobiological mechanisms explain the age-related vulnerability?
- ?Would longer follow-up show convergence or divergence between age groups?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Longitudinal design with validated diagnostic instrument and well-matched comparison groups, though moderate sample size limits to moderate evidence.
- Study Age:
- Data from the London-based CannTeen longitudinal study.
- Original Title:
- Longitudinal study of risk factors predicting cannabis use disorder in UK young adults and adolescents.
- Published In:
- Communications medicine, 5(1), 300 (2025)
- Authors:
- Skumlien, Martine(4), Jones, Darcy, Mokrysz, Claire(11), Lees, Rachel, Petrilli, Kat, Ofori, Shelan, Lawn, Will, Curran, H Valerie, Freeman, Tom P
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07677
Evidence Hierarchy
Watches what happens naturally without intervening.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does how often you use cannabis predict whether you develop a problem?
Surprisingly, no. In this study, the frequency of cannabis use did not predict CUD severity at 12 months. Age (adolescent vs. young adult) was the key risk factor.
Why are adolescents more vulnerable?
This study found adolescents had 3.26 times higher odds of developing CUD than young adults, consistent with evidence that the developing brain is more susceptible to cannabis-related changes.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07677APA
Skumlien, Martine; Jones, Darcy; Mokrysz, Claire; Lees, Rachel; Petrilli, Kat; Ofori, Shelan; Lawn, Will; Curran, H Valerie; Freeman, Tom P. (2025). Longitudinal study of risk factors predicting cannabis use disorder in UK young adults and adolescents.. Communications medicine, 5(1), 300. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-01018-y
MLA
Skumlien, Martine, et al. "Longitudinal study of risk factors predicting cannabis use disorder in UK young adults and adolescents.." Communications medicine, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-01018-y
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Longitudinal study of risk factors predicting cannabis use d..." RTHC-07677. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/skumlien-2025-longitudinal-study-of-risk
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.