University of Queensland A study from the University of Queensland and Mater Hospital claimed that 1 in 5 young people apparently go through a cannabis use disorder. The results supposedly divulge the traits of those who have more chances to suffer form a cannabis use disorder.

It was observed that apparently half of the 21 year olds in the study accounted to have used cannabis in their lifetime, and around 21 percent were grouped as people experiencing cannabis use disorder. The study also noted that the odds of males to undergo cannabis abuse or dependence were more as compared to females.

The outcome of the study also displayed that those children whose mothers had often changed their marital status or those who suffered sexual abuse during childhood appeared to have more chances to develop cannabis use disorder by the time they reach 21 years.

Those who exhibited hostile or antisocial behavior when they are 14 seemed to have twice the likelihood to develop cannabis use disorder by the time they hit 21 as opposed to other children. Young adults who accounted for poor academic record, or have smoked a cigarette or drank alcohol by 14 years appeared to have more probability to develop a cannabis disorder as compared to others who have not.

Dr Reza Hayatbakhsh, a study author at the Queensland Alcohol Drug Research and Education Centre at UQ’s School of Population Health and lead author of the paper is of the opinion that the study could be a step forward for policy makers and health professionals.

Dr. Hayatbakhsh commented, “The majority of those who experience a cannabis disorder by 21 years of age are at moderate to high risk, based upon our data. Policy makers could focus on addressing the health needs of young persons with aggressive or delinquent behaviour, to limit the tobacco use of young people, and to the prevention of childhood sexual abuse. Clinicians and health workers treating cannabis-related problems should consider the individual’s background as a possible contributor not only to their use of cannabis, but factors which may continue to limit the effectiveness of a treatment program.”

This study is based on the Mater-University Study of Pregnancy, Australia’s biggest longitudinal study which has apparently followed more than 8000 mothers and their children for 21 years.

The study appears in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse.