Cannabis use may increase the risk of psychotic symptoms in young people, including both subthreshold and acute forms, and can worsen symptoms in those already at risk or diagnosed with psychotic disorders. While integrating cannabis use assessment and treatment into early psychosis care is suggested, clinical trial evidence for effective treatments of co-occurring psychosis and cannabis use remains limited.
Cannabis is becoming more popular due to increased availability, higher potency, new consumption methods, lower risk perception, and changing social norms. Using cannabis is linked to worse recovery from psychotic disorders, including higher chances of relapse, rehospitalization, and reduced social functioning. Evidence is mixed on whether cannabis use itself causes psychosis in people already at risk. It is important for healthcare providers, parents, and schools to inform young people about these dangers.
Inhalant abuse—the intentional inhalation of volatile substances to alter mental state—is an underrecognized form of substance abuse affecting people across all demographic, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups, causing significant illness and death in school-aged and older children. This review describes current knowledge about its epidemiology, detection, and clinical challenges, and advises medical and mental health providers on their roles in prevention and management. It also discusses misuse of the over-the-counter dissociative drug dextromethorphan.
Meditation techniques, including mindfulness-based stress reduction, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, yoga, transcendental meditation, and mind-body practices, show possible value for treating anxiety, depression, and pain in children and adolescents. The article reviews research on these techniques for youth and their families, noting that clinicians need proper training before using them. Current data suggest but do not confirm benefits for these conditions.