Since cannabidiol (CBD), the non-intoxicating component of cannabis, was legalized in the United States by the 2018 Farm Bill, products containing this compound have flooded the consumer health space. Although there is one FDA-approved medication containing CBD that can be used to treat rare forms of epilepsy, there is limited evidence regarding the effectiveness of commercially available CBD products, which generally contain low doses of CBD. But that hasn't stopped its widespread and growing use.
Now, a new study published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research reveals that nearly 3% of healthy adolescents between the ages of 11 and 15 use commercial CBD products for medical or health-related reasons. became. The study, led by Dr. Natasha Wade, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, is the first to examine the prevalence and predictors of commercial CBD use among healthy young adults.
The study reported that approximately 3% of teenagers were given CBD for medical purposes, but this is likely an underreporting. Parents may not want to say they are giving their child CBD even though they are trying to help the child. ”
Natasha Wade, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine
The new study analyzed data from more than 11,000 participants in the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, a large longitudinal study of healthy adolescents in the United States. Researchers found that 2.8% of participants used commercially available CBD products, with the most common methods of administration being oil/tincture, topical/dermal, and edible/capsules/tablets. . None reported using prescription CBD.
The study also identified several factors that predict commercial CBD use, including older age, having college-educated parents, and certain health conditions such as sleep disorders, mental health symptoms, and physical pain. Additionally, the researchers found that young people whose parents had more permissive attitudes toward cannabis use were more likely to use commercial CBD products.
The researchers also found that in a subsample of teens who underwent hair toxicology testing, 23 percent of participants who used CBD products had THC in their hair, suggesting that some parents may be unknowingly giving their children CBD products that contain THC. Wade noted that the findings raise concerns about the chemical content of commercial CBD use among adolescents.
“This highlights the need to regulate CBD products to ensure they contain what is said on the label,” Wade said.
Following the study results, Wade and her team are now conducting a broader online study to find out why parents are giving CBD to their children and whether it is effective in treating children's illnesses. We are investigating whether. “We need to know why parents are giving CBD to their children and whether they think it actually works,” she said.
The study authors also emphasize the importance of clinicians asking about patients' CBD use and for parents to be open about using CBD products.
“We know very little about what CBD does for young people and how much they should take,” Wade said. “CBD use also has side effects. The goal of any medical procedure is to ensure the health and well-being of children, so it's essential to talk with your doctor to make the best decision for each child.”
sauce:
University of California San Diego
Reference magazines:
Wade, Nebraska, et al. (2024) Over-the-counter cannabidiol for community-based adolescents: Predicting drug use. Cannabis and cannabinoid research. doi.org/10.1089/can.2024.0015.
