Cannabis as a Gateway Drug for Opioid Use Disorder

J Law Med Ethics. 2020 Jun;48(2):268-274. doi: 10.1177/1073110520935338.

Abstract

Cannabis use in some individuals can meaningfully introduce de novo risk for the initiation of opioid use and development of opioid use disorder. These risks may be particularly high during adolescence when cannabis use may disrupt critical periods of neurodevelopment. Current research studying the combination of genetic and environmental factors involved in substance use disorders is poorly understood. More research is needed, particularly to identify which adolescents are most at risk and to develop effective interventions addressing contributing factors such as trauma and psychiatric comorbidity.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Development*
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Addictive / epidemiology*
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Cannabis*
  • Comorbidity
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Executive Function
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Long-Term Potentiation
  • Marijuana Use / epidemiology*
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Mice
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / genetics
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / pathology*
  • Young Adult