A recent comprehensive study has found a strong link between emergency department visits for cannabis use and the development of new anxiety disorders. The research analyzed health data from over 12 million people and revealed that those seeking emergency care for cannabis use exhibited nearly a fourfold increase in the risk of being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder within three years, compared to the general population. The study also highlighted the potential for cannabis use to exacerbate existing anxiety symptoms, challenging the perception of cannabis as a benign substance and emphasizing the need for caution in its medicinal or recreational use.
Key Facts:
- Individuals requiring emergency care for cannabis use showed a 3.9-fold increased risk of developing new anxiety disorders compared to the general population.
- The study also found a 3.7-fold increased risk of severe or worsening anxiety disorders following cannabis-related emergency department visits.
- Research suggests a potential causal relationship between cannabis use and increased anxiety, advocating against its use as a treatment for anxiety symptoms.
A study, published in The Lancet’s open access journal eClinical Medicine, included over 12 million individuals in Ontario, Canada, who had never received a diagnosis or treatment for anxiety between 2008 and 2019. The researchers analyzed health record data to compare the risk of developing an anxiety disorder for individuals who had an emergency department (ED) visit for cannabis use compared to the general population.
Dr. Daniel Myran, the lead author of the study, emphasized the results, stating that individuals requiring emergency department treatment for cannabis use were at substantially increased risk of developing a new anxiety disorder and experiencing worsening symptoms for existing anxiety disorders.
- Within three years, 27.5 percent of individuals who had an ED visit for cannabis use were diagnosed with a new anxiety disorder, compared to 5.6 percent of the general population—a 3.9 fold increased risk.
- Within three years, 12.3 percent of individuals who had an ED visit for cannabis use had a hospitalization or an emergency department visit for an anxiety disorder, compared to 1.2 percent of the general population—a 3.7 fold increased risk.
- Individuals with an ED visit where cannabis was the main reason for a visit had a 9.4 fold increased risk of hospitalization or ED visit for an anxiety disorder compared to the general population.
The study also found that men and women of all ages with an ED visit for cannabis use were at elevated risk of developing new anxiety disorders. Younger adults (10-24 years) and men were particularly at elevated risk.
The study concluded by cautioning against using cannabis to treat symptoms of anxiety due to the lack of evidence for its effectiveness, the potential to delay evidence-based treatments, and the risk of substantially worsening anxiety symptoms.
[Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News]
About this cannabis and anxiety research news
Author: Misty Pratt
Source: ICES
Contact: Misty Pratt – ICES
Original Research: Open access.
“Development of an anxiety disorder following an emergency department visit due to cannabis use: a population-based cohort study” by Daniel Myran et al. EClinical Medicine
