Overview: A recent investigation has uncovered a significant correlation between prenatal cannabis use disorder (CUD) and increased likelihood of children being diagnosed with ADHD, ASD, and ID. The research, encompassing over 222,000 pairs of mothers and their children in Australia, indicates that kids born to mothers with prenatal CUD face nearly double the risk of encountering these neurodevelopmental challenges.
Furthermore, additional factors such as maternal tobacco use and complications during pregnancy were found to significantly worsen these risks. This extensive study highlights the urgent need for heightened awareness and preventive strategies to counter the detrimental impacts of prenatal exposure to cannabis on children.
Vital Insights:
- Children of mothers diagnosed with prenatal CUD are nearly 98% more likely to develop ADHD, ASD, and ID.
- The investigation revealed that prenatal CUD, when combined with maternal smoking and other pregnancy-related complications, significantly increases the chances of neurodevelopmental disorders in children.
- The findings stress the critical importance of educating and counseling expectant mothers about the dangers of cannabis consumption during pregnancy to safeguard their children’s future health.
Reference: European Psychiatric Association
A groundbreaking study unveiled at the European Psychiatric Association Congress 2024 has found a clear link between prenatal cannabis use disorder (CUD) and an elevated risk of neurodevelopmental issues in children, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and intellectual disability (ID).
In Europe, cannabis is the most widely used illegal substance. Estimates suggest that about 1.3% of the adult population in the European Union, equating to 3.7 million individuals, uses cannabis daily or almost daily.
While men traditionally dominate cannabis usage statistics, recent trends indicate that women, particularly younger ones, are beginning to consume cannabis at rates comparable to men.
The rise in cannabis consumption among young women in the EU, particularly those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, has raised significant concerns. This worry is compounded by studies revealing that the concentration of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in cannabis has doubled compared to 15–20 years ago, heightening the risk of negative outcomes for young women and their babies if consumed during pregnancy.
Moreover, there is an increasing trend in the prevalence of ADHD and ASD among children and adolescents globally, with estimates suggesting rates of 5.3% to 5.9% worldwide and 4.6% in Europe for ADHD, and 1 in 2000 for ASD across the EU.
This comprehensive research, led by scientists at Curtin University in Australia, analyzed data from over 222,000 mother-child pairs in New South Wales, Australia. The researchers adopted a unique methodology, utilizing linked health registry data to confirm both prenatal CUD exposure and subsequent neurodevelopmental disorder diagnoses based on the ICD-10-AM classification.
Significant findings include:
- An increased risk of ADHD (98%), ASD (94%), and ID (46%) in children born to mothers with prenatal CUD, compared to those without such prenatal exposure.
- A notable interaction was found between prenatal CUD and maternal smoking, with children born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy and had prenatal CUD facing even higher risks of developing these disorders.
- The study also discovered that prenatal CUD, combined with other pregnancy complications like low birth weight and premature birth, further elevates the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children.
These results underline the long-term negative effects of cannabis use during pregnancy and the importance of preventive efforts.
Abay Woday Tadesse, the study’s lead investigator at the Curtin School of Population Health, emphasized the significance of their findings, “Our study reveals a considerable increase in the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children born to mothers with prenatal cannabis use, highlighting the imperative for preventive strategies, including preconception counseling.”
Professor Rosa Alati, Head of the Curtin School of Population Health and the study’s senior author, reinforced the necessity of raising awareness about the dangers of cannabis consumption during pregnancy among women contemplating pregnancy.
“Leveraging linked data with confirmed diagnoses offers a more comprehensive understanding of the risks associated with prenatal cannabis use. It is crucial for public health initiatives and clinical interventions to educate the public about these risks, supporting women in making informed choices for their health and their children’s well-being,” stated Dr. Julian Beezhold, Secretary General of the European Psychiatric Association.
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