Marijuana and Mental Health
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Ask The Expert
Marc Galanter, M.D. is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine. Dr. Galanter's medical specialty is psychiatry and substance abuse, and he is board certified in Addiction Psychiatry.
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How does smoking marijuana affect the mental health of teens?
Marijuana use can have a marked effect on a young person's mental health, as well as their overall well-being. Marijuana has been linked to depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.
There is also a growing body of research indicating that marijuana smoking may actually cause many of these and other mental health problems. Youth who use marijuana weekly have double
the risk of depression later in life, and teens aged 12 to 17 who smoke marijuana weekly are three times more likely than non-users to have suicidal thoughts.
Can chronic marijuana use produce psychological changes to a developing brain?
While researchers still have a long way to go in understanding the complexity of brain function, we do know that illicit drug use produces psychological – if not physical – changes,
impacting on a young person's developing brain, as brain development continues into the early 20's. Unfortunately, the average age for teens trying marijuana is 14. This means that many
people who smoke pot do so before their brain development is settled, leaving room for chronic drug use to influence certain centers that control emotion and reason. The high levels of
THC (the active component in marijuana) can influence the brain centers into feeling or thinking in a distorted way, which can present outwardly as depression or paranoia. Research also
shows that marijuana use affects blood flow in the brain as well, which may be reflected in altered activity and function.
How can I tell if my son or daughter is having mental health problems?
It is often difficult for parents to know the difference between emerging mental health problems and typical changes in mood or attitudes in their teen. It is normal to see temper
outbursts, changes in sleeping habits and changes in hobbies. However, there are a number of ways of identifying whether your child is having psychological problems related to marijuana
use. First and foremost, it is critical that you are attentive. You can look for signs of depression, withdrawal, carelessness with their grooming habits or hostility. Other questions
you can ask yourself: Is your child doing well in school, getting along with friends, taking part in sports or other activities? If there have been marked changes in your teen's
activities, it's time to do some more homework. Look for evidence of drug paraphernalia such as pipes, rolling papers and so on; missing prescription drugs—especially narcotics and
mood stabilizers; and bottles of eye drops, which mask bloodshot eyes.
Where can I get help if my child has symptoms of mental illness?
An excellent place to find help for mental health issues is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA),
Web site. Here you can find resources in your area, as well as tips to assist you with specific mental health problems, like anxiety and suicidal thoughts.
If you’re worried that your child might have a drug or alcohol problem, there are helpful resources on this Web site, or you can turn to your family physician for advice.
Or you can call SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment hotline at 800-662-HELP (4357), 800-487-4889 (TDD), or 877-767-8432 (Spanish).
Marc Galanter, M.D., is Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse at New York University Medical Center as well as Director of the
Dual Diagnosis and Addiction program there. He is the author of many books, including Network Therapy for Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and co-editor of the American Psychiatric Press Textbook
of Substance Abuse Treatment.
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