Publication Date
Spring 5-8-2023
Degree Level
B.A.
Program
Biological Science
First Advisor
Boies, Lori
Second Advisor
Langston, Camille
Document Type
Thesis
LCSH subject
Marijuana; Cannabis; Recreational marijuana use; Depression, Mental; Mental health services
Abstract
Depression is a widespread mental health condition affecting millions worldwide, with young adults being particularly vulnerable. The concurrent use of marijuana has become an increasingly relevant factor in treating depression, especially in this population. However, recent literature reviews have highlighted a significant gap in knowledge regarding treatment outcomes in adolescents who utilize both mental health treatments, including antidepressants (AD), and marijuana. This research seeks to better understand the relationship between mental health treatment utilization and marijuana together by exploring the association between depression, marijuana use, and mental health care utilization. Our findings suggest that depression and marijuana use tend to co-occur, and mental health treatment does not reduce this association. Moreover, mental health services may increase the association of marijuana use with depression significantly in adults aged 18 – 25 years old. Our study highlights the potential negative impact of marijuana use on mental health, specifically the increased odds of experiencing a major depressive episode (MDE) in individuals who use marijuana regardless of whether they are utilizing mental health treatment. These results have important implications for public health interventions and substance use prevention efforts, particularly among young adults, who have the highest prevalence of marijuana use and major depressive episodes.
Recommended Citation
Kobs, Zachary A., "Mind the Gap: Revealing the Association between Depression, Marijuana Use, and Mental Health Care Utilization" (2023). https://commons.stmarytx.edu/honorstheses/24/
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License