New Study by CDU Faculty Member Finds Childhood Depression and Suicidal Ideation Often Precede Cannabis Use
A newly published longitudinal study led in part by Dr. Shervin Assari, Associate Professor of Medicine at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) reveals that childhood depression and suicidal ideation may precede cannabis use—challenging the widely held belief that marijuana use is a cause rather than a result of mental health issues in youth.
Dr. Assari, who co-authored the study with an investigator from Morgan State University, another HBCU, emphasized the urgent need to address mental health early and holistically—especially in underserved communities. He also identified a promising path forward: cultivating hope as a protective factor.
“While depression and suicidality increase future substance use, hopefulness may reduce such risk,” said Dr. Assari. “This makes hope a point of intervention for our substance use prevention efforts in youth.”
Published in March, the study has major implications for how families, educators, and healthcare professionals approach cannabis use in the context of adolescent development. The findings underscore the importance of mental health as a precursor to substance use rather than a consequence—especially amid the evolving legal and social landscape surrounding marijuana.
“Although we are living in a post-marijuana legalization era, marijuana use among youth is still high-risk, which is more common in the subset of population with a history of depression and suicidality” Dr. Assari explained. “We need to increase access to mental health care services for young people.”
He also pointed out that financial strain and underserved living conditions elevate the risks for both mental health challenges and substance use.
“This paper highlights the role of mental health problems as a risk factor for cannabis use among youth. Addressing these needs should not be overlooked in our efforts to serve our communities, especially in Service Planning Area 6 (SPA 6),” he said.
For CDU, the study aligns with the University’s mission to eliminate health disparities and support youth on the path toward health, wellness, and leadership.
“CDU has been working with youth in the community, helping them build their careers and enter the medical field,” said Dr. Assari. “This is another step toward that effort. CDU is already inspiring hope in many students of color, and I would love to see the University continue emphasizing strategies that cultivate and sustain hope throughout students’ academic journeys.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Assari is pursuing additional support to expand this work. He hopes to secure funding from the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP) to further test the role of hope-based interventions in preventing youth substance use.
“So far, we have three papers showing that hopeful students are less likely to turn to tobacco and marijuana,” he noted. “I’m excited to explore how hope can serve as a cornerstone in public health strategies.”
The full study, “Childhood depression, hopelessness, and suicidal attempts predict earlier tobacco and marijuana use initiation during adolescence,” is available in the Open Journal of Medical Science.