From Use to Outcome: The Evidence Linking Teen Cannabis and Young Adult Depression

From Use to Outcome: The Evidence Linking Teen Cannabis and Young Adult Depression

Cannabis is more available, more potent, and more normalized than ever but what does the evidence say about its effects on teenagers?In this episode of Transformed Minds, Dr. O is joined by Dr. Vito, a child, adolescent, and addiction board-certified psychiatrist and faculty member at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, to discuss the latest research on cannabis and adolescent mental health.Together, they examine a landmark 2019 JAMA Psychiatry meta-analysis involving more than 23,000 young people, showing that cannabis use before age 18 is associated with a significantly increased risk of major depression and suicidality in young adulthood. They also discuss what clinicians, parents, schools, and policymakers can do to better protect young people.⏱ Chapters00:00 Why Cannabis Matters More Than Ever00:19 Prevention and Treatment Overview01:33 Budget Cuts and Advocacy02:02 Introducing Dr. Vito05:19 The Landmark JAMA Meta-Analysis09:31 Brain Development and Cannabis11:08 Understanding the Risks14:21 Cannabis and Anxiety: What the Evidence Shows16:46 Suicidality Explained20:23 Trauma and Self-Medication22:34 Legalization and Youth Messaging28:54 Pediatric Screening with CRAFFT & SBIRT33:28 Cannabis-Induced Psychosis33:58 Clinical Case Discussion35:03 Harm Reduction and Treatment36:04 Access to Care and Health Disparities39:12 Advocacy for Future Clinicians41:21 Early Exposure and Risk Stratification44:36 Prevention Policy That Works48:15 A Practical Screening Framework49:45 Research, Policy, and Public Health51:22 The Rafa Foundation & FIRE Initiative56:37 Final TakeawaysFeatured Articles- Gobbi G et al. Association of Cannabis Use in Adolescence and Risk of Depression, Anxiety, and Suicidality in Young Adulthood. JAMA Psychiatry. 2019. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2723657- National Academies of Sciences. The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids. 2017. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/24625If you found this conversation valuable, please like, subscribe, and share it with a pediatrician, school counselor, parent, educator, or colleague. ⚠️ Content Note: This episode includes discussion of depression, suicide, and suicidal thoughts. Please take care while listening.If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. In the U.S. and Canada, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you're elsewhere, contact your local crisis service or emergency services. If there is an immediate risk of harm, call your local emergency number right away. All episodes are for educational purposes and not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care.

Beyond SSRIs: Psilocybin in Treatment-Resistant Depression & What It Means for Substance Use Disorders

Can psilocybin help patients with treatment-resistant depression and what does the latest clinical evidence mean for people dealing with both depression and addiction? In this episode of The Transformed Minds (Host Rx), psychiatrist Dr. O breaks down a landmark 2022 NEJM phase II randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial examining psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Dr. O explains what qualifies as TRD, walks through the trial's three-arm dosing design (1 mg, 10 mg, and 25 mg plus structured psychological support), and interprets the primary outcome, MADRS score change at three weeks. The 25 mg dose showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement, but the story gets more complex by week 12. This episode is especially valuable for clinicians, patients, and advocates navigating dual diagnosis care co-occurring depression and substance use disorders. Dr. O covers: - psilocybin-assisted therapy- treatment-resistant depression, - MADRS depression scale, - psychedelic safety- mental health equity- substance use disorder and depression Whether you're a mental health professional, someone living with TRD, or simply following the rapidly evolving conversation around psychedelic medicine, this episode gives you the evidence-based framework to think critically, not just hopefully about what psilocybin can and cannot do right now.

From Craving to Cognitive Flexibility: Psychedelic-Assisted Treatment for Alcohol Use

Can psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy help reduce heavy drinking in alcohol use disorder? In this Host Rx episode, Dr. O analyzes the landmark 2022 JAMA Psychiatry randomized clinical trial examining psilocybin combined with psychotherapy for adults with alcohol dependence. Dr. O explains: • The study design and outcomes • How psilocybin may promote cognitive flexibility • Safety considerations • Ethical and policy challenges • What this means for the future of addiction treatment This episode also explores implementation barriers, reimbursement issues, disparities in access, and the importance of rigorous scientific oversight as psychedelic medicine evolves. Educational only, not medical advice. #Psilocybin #AlcoholUseDisorder #PsychedelicTherapy #AddictionPsychiatry #MentalHealthPodcast

Paying for Recovery: Contingency Management, Stimulant Use Disorder, & Survival w/Dr. Park

Stimulant overdose deaths are rising rapidly and one of the most effective treatments remains widely misunderstood. In this episode of Transform Minds Podcast, Dr. O sits down with addiction psychiatrist Dr. Dong Chan Park to explore contingency management (CM), an evidence-based treatment for stimulant use disorder that uses immediate rewards to reinforce recovery behaviors. Drawing on a 2025 American Journal of Psychiatry cohort study, this conversation examines how contingency management may significantly reduce all-cause mortality while addressing the ethical, clinical, and policy barriers limiting broader adoption. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: * Why stimulant-involved overdose deaths continue to rise * How contingency management works in real-world addiction treatment * Why CM is often criticized as “bribery” * The evidence linking CM to lower mortality * Trauma-informed approaches to stimulant treatment * The role of ADHD, housing instability, and relapse triggers in recovery * How CBT, IOP, and multidisciplinary care support long-term outcomes FEATURED ARTICLES & RESOURCES: * Coughlin LN et al. Contingency Management for Stimulant Use Disorder and Association With Mortality. Am J Psychiatry. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.20250053 [https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.20250053] * National Academies of Sciences: Medications and Behavioral Treatments for Substance Use Disorders * SAMHSA: Treatment of Stimulant Use Disorders Recovery is possible. Evidence-based treatment saves lives. #ContingencyManagement #StimulantUseDisorder #AddictionPsychiatry #MentalHealthPodcast #AddictionRecovery

Youth Self-Harm, Substance Use, and Suicide Risk: What the Data Actually Show | Epi 6

In this episode, Dr. O examines how self-harm, substance use, and emotional dysregulation interact to increase risk in adolescents and young adults. Drawing on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2025, this discussion highlights how mental disorders, substance use, and self-harm are leading contributors to disability in ages 10–24. Key topics include: * Substance use as a major risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors * Emotional dysregulation and impulsivity * Social media and behavioral risk patterns * Clinical implications for screening and early intervention Featured research includes: * Xu et al., Translational Psychiatry 2025 * Jones et al., Substance Abuse 2023 * López-Martínez et al., Behavioral Sciences 2025 RESOURCES:If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call emergency services (911 in the U.S.) right away. *U.S.: Call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) OR Chat via 988lifeline.org *International: Visit findahelpline.com to find local resourcesYou are not alone. Help is available.