Children of Mothers with Cannabis Use Disorder Have 3.5x Higher Risk of Behavioral Disorders | Research

The takeaway

In a population-based Australian cohort, children of mothers with cannabis use disorder during pregnancy had 3.56 times higher risk of developing disruptive behavioral disorders compared to unexposed children.

obstetricians, child psychologists, pediatric behavioral specialists, pregnant women

What the researchers found

Maternal CUD during pregnancy was associated with significantly higher risk of disruptive behavioral disorders in offspring: antenatal CUD (RR 3.56, CI 2.42-5.05), perinatal CUD (RR 3.55, CI 2.45-4.98), and postnatal CUD (RR 2.95, CI 1.23-6.16). All exposure windows showed significant associations after adjustment for confounders.

Why it matters

The consistent 3-3.5x risk increase across antenatal, perinatal, and postnatal exposure windows provides strong evidence that maternal CUD is associated with behavioral problems in children, regardless of timing.

The numbers in context

Antenatal CUD: RR 3.56 (CI 2.42-5.05). Perinatal CUD: RR 3.55 (CI 2.45-4.98). Postnatal CUD: RR 2.95 (CI 1.23-6.16). All statistically significant after adjustment.

How the study worked

Population-based retrospective cohort using linked health data from New South Wales, Australia. Live births 2003-2005. CUD and disruptive behavioral disorders identified via ICD codes. Generalized linear models with log-binomial regression.

What this study cannot tell us

ICD-coded diagnoses from administrative data. Cannot separate cannabis effects from associated risk factors. Disruptive behavioral disorders may be underdiagnosed. Same cohort limitations as companion anxiety study.

How to read the evidence

Large population-based cohort with consistent findings across exposure windows, but administrative data and inability to isolate cannabis-specific effects limit conclusions.

When this study was published

2025 publication with 2003-2005 birth cohort.

The bigger picture

Together with the companion study on anxiety disorders (RTHC-07765), this research paints a comprehensive picture: maternal CUD is associated with both internalizing (anxiety) and externalizing (behavioral) disorders in offspring, suggesting broad developmental impact.

Questions still open

What biological mechanisms might link prenatal cannabis exposure to behavioral disorders?
Are these behavioral effects persistent into adulthood?

Common questions

Does cannabis use during pregnancy cause behavioral problems in children?

This study found children of mothers with cannabis use disorder had 3.5 times higher risk of disruptive behavioral disorders. The association was consistent whether exposure occurred during pregnancy, around birth, or postnatally, though the study cannot prove direct causation.

When is the riskiest time for cannabis exposure during pregnancy?

Risk was similar across all timing windows in this study: antenatal (RR 3.56), perinatal (RR 3.55), and postnatal (RR 2.95). This suggests both in-utero exposure and postnatal environmental factors may contribute.

Read the original research

Maternal cannabis use disorder and offspring behavioral outcomes: findings from a linked data cohort study.

Psychiatry research, 346, 116404

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Tadesse, Abay Woday; Dachew, Berihun Assefa; Ayano, Getinet; Betts, Kim; Alati, Rosa. (2025). Maternal cannabis use disorder and offspring behavioral outcomes: findings from a linked data cohort study.. Psychiatry research, 346, 116404. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116404