Smoking cannabis alters the quality of sleep, more specifically among students. In a study published on February 8 in the scientific journal research in psychiatryResearchers from Inserm, attached to the CHU and the University of Bordeaux, have shown that the use of the most widespread drug in France considerably increases the risk of insomnia.
Based on the observation that 55% of students in France have sleep disorders and 19% insomnia, the Inserm researchers decided to study the potential role that cannabis plays in these disorders. The effects of the substance on our sleep have already been documented.
However, in France, 13.9% of 18-25 year olds say they use cannabis monthly and 4% daily, according to Public Health France’s Health Barometer.
Nearly 15,000 students surveyed
Inserm reports in a press release that the study is based on a cohort of 14,787 university students, who answered an online questionnaire. Among the questions: your cannabis use, the quality of your sleep, “with a specific question about insomnia.”
In order to leave out other potentially disruptive elements of sleep, such as mental health or alcohol, questions about the students’ lifestyle habits were added.
“The originality of this study lies in the fact that we had access to a particularly large sample of students who provided precise data on their cannabis use and the quality of their sleep,” explains Julien Coelho, first author of the study.
Double the risk of insomnia
Analyzed and quantified, the responses show a non-negligible effect of cannabis on the sleep of these students. The results “showed that cannabis use increased the risk of sleep disorders,” Inserm details.
The study itself details that “the probability of insomnia was significantly higher by 45% among cannabis users compared to non-users.”
Worse yet, daily cannabis users are twice as likely to experience insomnia as students who never or rarely use cannabis. A worrying observation, while lack of sleep can alter cognitive abilities, essential for students.
However, the causality between cannabis and insomnia has not been investigated. For Christophe Tzourio, professor of epidemiology and hospital doctor, these results show, however, “the importance of multiplying public health messages to carry out prevention with students, but also with health professionals about the dangers of high consumption of cannabis for health”, informs Inserm.
Consumption among young people falls
On a positive note, cannabis use is currently on a downward trend. The French Observatory for Drugs and Drug Addiction (OFDT) has observed a drop in drug use among young people since 2019.
In 2020, “during the month” cannabis use among teens dropped six points to 8.5%. A trend that has been confirmed with the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic has accelerated the downward trend in alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use among French youth,” said Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, last December.
Source: BFM TV
