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Attitudes, perceptions, and use of marijuana in youth with multiple sclerosis

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Abstract

Background

Studies have shown a negative impact on cognition and brain volume in marijuana-using adult multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and healthy adolescents. Given that onset of MS during childhood and adolescence negatively impacts brain growth and the normal maturation of neuronal networks, the addition of marijuana exposure in these youth may be even more harmful.

Objective

Determine attitudes toward and prevalence of recreational marijuana use in MS youth.

Methods

We surveyed 52 consecutive pediatric-onset MS patients from three pediatric MS centers in the United States. Participants answered a structured questionnaire to capture attitudes toward marijuana and personal use habits, if present.

Results

Nearly half reported use of marijuana, with the majority beginning to use in mid-to-late adolescence. The most popular reasons for using marijuana were relaxation (72%), improvement of medical problems (64%), and stress reduction (52%). Over half (64%) of marijuana users perceived it to have negative effects on memory and focus. Cost and access were not barriers to use, despite all respondents being less than age 21.

Conclusion

Youth with MS endorse recreational marijuana as safe, and many use marijuana frequently despite appreciating a negative impact on memory. More detailed understanding of the long-term impact of marijuana use in youth with MS is needed.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Amy Lavery, Gerry Liu, and Brooke Henry for assistance in study initiation and recruitment. We would also like to thank Isabella Dumitrescu for her assistance in creating the questionnaire employed in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, PO Box 800394, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA

    J. Nicholas Brenton

  2. Department of Pediatric Neurology, University of Colorado/Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA

    Teri Schreiner

  3. Department of Pediatric Neurology, University of Pennsylvania/Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Krystle Karoscik, Meg Richter, Samantha Ferrante, Amy Waldman & Brenda Banwell

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  1. J. Nicholas Brenton
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  2. Teri Schreiner
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Correspondence to J. Nicholas Brenton.

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On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethical standard

This study was approved by the appropriate ethics committees and has therefore been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki.

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Brenton, J.N., Schreiner, T., Karoscik, K. et al. Attitudes, perceptions, and use of marijuana in youth with multiple sclerosis. J Neurol 265, 417–423 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-017-8715-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-017-8715-5

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