Pattern of marijuana use during adolescence may impact psychosocial outcomes in adulthood
"We know that cannabis use in adolescence is associated with outcomes like lower educational level, and difficulties with mood and depression, but through this long-term study, we've been able to provide a much deeper insight into this relationship, showing that certain characteristics of use may be more important than others," said Erika Forbes, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry, psychology and pediatrics, and lead author of the study. "The findings highlight that understanding marijuana use across the entire period of adolescence, which we know is an extremely vulnerable developmental phase, may tell us much more about detrimental long-term impacts than knowing about overall or one time use." Researchers analyzed 158 boys and young men from Pittsburgh who were part of The Pitt Mother & Child Project ( PMCP ), a long-running longitudinal study of males at high risk for antisocial behavior and other psychopathology based on low income, family size and child...