Anxiety disorders can adversely impact a person’s ability and capacity to perform daily tasks, have affable relationships with others, and work. Anxiety can cause many other problems. The patient’s tendency toward self-medicating psychiatric symptoms can lead to significant increases in the likelihood of substance abuse. These disorders can affect anyone of any age, but young adults and adolescents are at the highest risk. These disorders are most common in adolescents, when many of the major changes in personal and professional life occur. In fact, marijuana use has been associated with various types of anxiety disorders such as panic disorders and generalized anxiety disorders GAD.
A recent study published in the Journal of the Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry suggests that anxiety may be a risk factor for problematic marijuana use patterns in young adulthood. Â Participants were assessed annually for problematic marijuana use between the ages of nine and sixteen years. Then, they were followed up at the ages of 19, 21, 26, and 30 years using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5DSM-V. Researchers discovered that 76.3 percent of participants had not used marijuana in problematic ways during their adolescence and early adulthood, compared to other participants who were positive and Maryland Greenscript Cannabis. These risk profiles could be useful in designing targeted interventions.
Persistently problematic use: This group included individuals who used cannabis in a problematic manner throughout their adulthood. These individuals also had the highest rates of psychiatric disorders. Shrike Hill, the lead author of the study, noted that 27% of persistent users had suffered from anxiety disorders as children. However, 23 percent of those who reported suffering from anxiety disorders in adulthood and college were afflicted by them.
Use with caution: This group suffered the most from dysfunctional families and unstable relationships than other groups. They were also more likely to consume a greater amount of marijuana during their teen years and adolescence. As they grew older, their propensity for using marijuana diminished.
The study found a positive correlation between anxiety disorders, persistent marijuana use, and anxiety disorders. However it also identified risk profiles that could be used to tailor policies and interventions for teens and adults who are most vulnerable to anxiety disorders.
The above study is crucial in highlighting the negative effects of marijuana on mental health, especially with increased attention on legalizing it for medical use. Hill stressed the following point: We need to think about how we will address problems that might arise in an increasing number of older users. This study raises awareness about the fastest growing age group of cannabis users, as more states are likely to legalize it for recreational and medicinal purposes. Numerous quantitative studies have demonstrated the relationship between anxiety and cannabis use, especially during the most stressful period of adolescence. Despite ongoing debate about legalizing medical marijuana, there are some potential side effects to using cannabis. These include mental and physical health problems.