Adolescents Were 3x More Likely Than Young Adults to Develop Cannabis Use Disorder Over 12 Months | Research

The takeaway

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.

adolescent health clinicians, cannabis prevention program designers, substance use researchers

What the researchers 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.

Why it 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 numbers in context

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 the study worked

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.

What this study cannot 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.

How to read the evidence

Longitudinal design with validated diagnostic instrument and well-matched comparison groups, though moderate sample size limits to moderate evidence.

When this study was published

Data from the London-based CannTeen longitudinal study.

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.

Questions still open

What neurobiological mechanisms explain the age-related vulnerability?
Would longer follow-up show convergence or divergence between age groups?

Common 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 the original research

Longitudinal study of risk factors predicting cannabis use disorder in UK young adults and adolescents.

Communications medicine, 5(1), 300

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

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