Health Service Use Among Young Adults With a History of Adolescent Cannabis Use

Is adolescent cannabis use associated with medical care utilization for mental and physical health conditions in young adulthood?In this cohort study of 1591 individuals followed up to age 23 years, adolescents who initiated cannabis use before 15 years of age and used frequently had increased odds of medical care utilization for both mental and physical conditions in young adulthood, compared with adolescents without cannabis use. Adolescents with late-onset use had no increased odds for mental health care utilization but did exhibit higher odds for physical conditions.Evidence from this study indicated that early and frequent cannabis use was associated with medical care utilization later in life, underscoring the importance of delaying or reducing adolescent cannabis use.

Corresponding Author: Massimiliano Orri, PhD, McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Frank B. Common Pavilion, 6875 LaSalle Blvd, Montreal H4H 1R3, Quebec, Canada (massimiliano.orri@mcgill.ca).

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