Study finds treatment delays for teen cannabis use disorder are rising

By AI, Created 4:58 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – George Mason University researchers found that nearly one in three adolescents with cannabis use disorder faced delays in getting care, with the problem worsening again by 2022. The findings point to uneven access across referral paths and treatment settings, raising risks for young people whose cannabis use can affect brain development and school outcomes.

Why it matters: - Nearly one in three adolescents with cannabis use disorder experienced delays in treatment. - Delayed care can leave young people exposed to ongoing harm during a stage when cannabis use can affect brain development, thinking, memory, learning, coordination and attention. - Cannabis use in adolescence is linked to poorer academic performance, including a higher risk of dropping out of school and a lower likelihood of pursuing higher education. - The pattern signals a broader access problem in youth substance-use treatment, not just an individual patient issue.

What happened: - George Mason University researcher Panagiota Kitsantas studied patterns and predictors of treatment delays among U.S. adolescents with cannabis use disorder. - The research found that younger adolescents, males, White non-Hispanic youth, and youth in residential rehabilitation and outpatient settings experienced more delays. - Hong Xue, an associate professor in the College of Public Health Department of Health Administration and Policy, co-authored the study. - The study, “Admission Delays in Receiving Treatment for Cannabis Use Disorder among US Adolescents,” was published in April 2026 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The details: - About 31% of adolescents in the study experienced treatment delays for cannabis use disorder. - Treatment delays declined through 2018, then increased again by 2022. - Adolescents ages 12 to 14 were more likely to face delays than older teens. - Male adolescents were more likely to experience delays than female adolescents. - White non-Hispanic youth were more likely to experience delays than other groups. - Youth referred through health care systems were more likely to face delays than youth who self-referred. - Adolescents in rehabilitation and residential programs, as well as outpatient settings, experienced more delays than those in detox services. - The findings suggest differences in access speed across referral processes and treatment settings.

Between the lines: - The results point to system-level barriers that can slow care even when treatment is available. - The uneven pattern across referral routes suggests that how a young person enters treatment may matter as much as the diagnosis itself. - Kitsantas said the research highlights a growing and preventable problem and is intended to support faster access to treatment and better long-term outcomes.

What’s next: - The findings could help shape efforts to reduce delays in adolescent substance-use care. - Health systems may need to speed up referrals and reduce variation across treatment settings. - Researchers and clinicians are likely to keep focusing on earlier intervention for teens with cannabis use disorder. - Kitsantas said the goal is to promote timely treatment and ease the broader public health burden of substance use.