Cannabis use among teenagers: no loss of motivation

The amotivation syndrome is a fairly well-documented pathology in adults, linked to the long-term effects of alcohol consumption. Cannabis. Its main symptoms are psychic dissociation, emotional blocking and loss of memory and attention.

A study conducted at Florida International University, examined the relationship between cannabis use and motivation in adolescents.

The researchers assessed the motivation of 79 adolescents aged 14 to 18, including 36 regular users and 43 light users, using two validated tools: the Marin scale, which measures the subject's apathy (Apathy Evaluation Scale) and the Motivation and Commitment Scale (Motivation and Engagement Scale).

The study authors report that «after controlling for confounding factors, no significant differences were observed between light and regular cannabis users on either scale. Similarly, there was no association between motivation and occasional or less than 30-day use».

They conclude that «our research does not support a link between reduced motivation and cannabis use in adolescents after controlling for confounding factors».

In future research, they add, they want to measure the consumption threshold at which a teenager's motivation can be affected, and the conditions that influence this link.

Cannabis consumption is, however, at risk in the youngest. Teenagers who use cannabis frequently and in large quantities often suffer cognitive problems, with THC proving to be a hindrance to brain development.