UCLA Study Links Substance Use to Mental Health Issues in Adolescents

The study, utilizing data from the 2022–2024 California Health Interview Surveys, found that adolescents who use drugs or alcohol reported serious suicidal thoughts or attempts at rates more than three times higher than their peers who do not use these substances. Those facing both psychological distress and substance use were nearly six times more likely to have suicidal thoughts or attempts compared to those who only used substances without psychological distress.

The research identified that 9% of California adolescents currently use substances such as marijuana, binge drinking alcohol, e-cigarettes, and cigarettes, defined as having used any of these in the past month. Notably, the study revealed that 46% of adolescent substance users experienced serious psychological distress, compared to 27% of non-users.

When analyzing the overlap of substance use and psychological distress with suicidal behavior, the findings were stark: 47% of adolescents with both issues reported suicidal thoughts or attempts in the year leading up to the survey, as opposed to 24% among those experiencing psychological distress without substance use. Overall, 10% of California adolescents reported seriously considering or attempting suicide in the past year.

Imelda Padilla-Frausto, a research scientist at UCLA CHPR and the study's lead author, emphasized the dangerous combination of substance use and psychological distress. She stated that the findings underscore the need for prevention, early intervention, and treatment for adolescents facing these challenges.

The report also addresses the harmful effects of early, frequent, or heavy substance use on brain development and mental health. It analyzed nearly 3,000 interviews conducted with adolescents as part of the California Health Interview Surveys.

Among adolescents without psychological distress who use substances, 8% reported suicidal thoughts or attempts, a rate four times higher than those who do not use substances (2%). Moreover, those who had ever used substances reported suicidal thoughts at rates over three times higher than non-users (20% versus 6%).

In light of these findings, the report offers policy recommendations, advocating for targeted early intervention efforts for adolescents at high risk for both substance use and mental health issues. It also suggests co-locating mental health and substance use services.

Padilla-Frausto noted the widespread glamorization of substance use in advertising and media and called for increased investments in prevention efforts, early interventions, and making treatment more accessible and youth-centered. Additionally, she highlighted the importance of strengthening regulations designed to limit adolescents' access to these substances.