To synthesize current evidence on the neurodevelopmental consequences of adolescent cannabis use, emphasizing the urgent need for understanding these effects due to rising usage rates.
Key Findings:
Neuroimaging revealed dose-dependent structural changes, including reduced prefrontal cortical and hippocampal volumes.
Cognitive effects were mixed; some studies showed persistent deficits in adolescent-onset users, while others found no significant effects after controlling for confounders.
Epidemiological studies indicated a significantly elevated addiction risk in adolescents (ORs 3.9–7.2).
Long-term associations included educational difficulties, mental health issues, and functional impairments.
Interpretation:
Adolescent cannabis use is associated with structural brain changes and increased addiction risk, with variable cognitive effects suggesting greater vulnerability compared to adult-onset use, highlighting the complexity of these findings.
Limitations:
Methodological limitations including confounders such as pre-existing psychiatric conditions and socioeconomic factors, and heterogeneous definitions.
Observational designs limit causal inference.
Inconsistencies in findings across studies.
Conclusion:
Findings support the need for age-specific prevention and interventions, emphasizing the importance of rigorous longitudinal research to establish causality and address identified gaps.
