Laura Stack has spoken in Grand Rounds, at Pediatric and Medical conferences, as well as Universities.
The Causal Link Between Youth THC Use and Psychosis: The Dangerous Truth About Today’s Marijuana
THC use (vapes, dabs, smokes, edibles) can affect brain development, particularly during the critical period of adolescence through the mid- to late-20s. This is also the period when psychotic disorders typically emerge, and there’s growing evidence associating the two. Recent studies show that the more potent the THC product used, the more frequent the use, and the earlier the age of consumption, the greater the risk of psychosis. Physicians have seen a rise in chronic psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, in which they believe youth THC use was a contributing factor. In this session, you’ll learn how today’s high-potency THC products cause greater rates of addiction, brain changes, and mental illness in our youth.
Attendees will:
- Understand why today’s high-potency THC products are more addictive for youth than in decades past (brief overview).
- Learn about the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) and how THC interferes with adolescent brain development (brief overview).
- Discover how addiction and brain changes can lead to mental illnesses (psychosis, anxiety, depression, suicidality) in youth who use THC.
- Study the latest research linking youth high potency THC use to schizophrenia in those who aren’t genetically inclined.
- Apply the Bradford Hill Elements of Causation to THC and psychosis.
This session is taught by Laura Stack, who lost her 19-year-old son, Johnny, to suicide following psychosis from high-potency THC use. Laura is the Founder & CEO of the nonprofit Johnny’s Ambassadors Youth THC Prevention, which is working to warn teens and parents about the dangers of youth THC use. Backed by peer-to-peer research and Johnny’s Ambassadors Scientific Advisory Board.
