Cannabis use among university students in the United States has seen a significant increase due to a host of factors related to accessibility, decriminalization, decreased stigmatization, and perceived lack of harm. While many health officials state respiratory concerns regarding the inhalation of smoked and vaporized cannabis products, a growing number are also troubled by potential psychological disturbances caused by ingestion of any preparation of cannabis and/or its active ingredients. A growing body of literature suggests that chronic use of cannabis may precipitate or exacerbate various forms of mental illness, especially in predisposed individuals. Specific diagnoses of interest include depression, anxiety, and most notably, psychosis. Suicidal ideation is a hallmark of severe depression, in addition to other psychiatric conditions. This study aims to identify relationships between cannabis use disorder and suicidal ideation in college students.
The study’s sample was comprised of 1034 students recruited through an online platform, all enrolled at a French undergraduate university (n=1034, 78.1% female). The participants completed self-report questionnaires which measured the following items: alcohol use, cannabis use (via Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test-Revised), suicidal ideation experiences (via an unpublished 3-item scale), depression symptoms (via Personality Health Questionnaire), anxiety symptoms (via General Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire), and borderline personality disorder traits (via Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire). Data analysis was performed using correlations and multiple regression analysis.
Results of the study indicated that prevalence of suicidal ideation did not significantly differ between cannabis users and cannabis non-users. Borderline personality traits and depressive symptoms were found to be associated with suicidal ideations. As cannabis use disorder symptoms increased, borderline personality traits and depressive symptoms also increased, demonstrating an indirect or mediating effect of cannabis on these symptomologies.
Takeaway: suicidal ideation experiences may be indirectly associated with problematic cannabis use in university students. Depression and other forms of mental illness are often prevalent in cannabis users, and interventions should accommodate for these psychological conditions upon implementation.