What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Mental Health, Addiction.

Where was this research published?

Published in Addictive behaviors reports on August 26, 2026.

Thai adolescent substance-use patterns linked with depressive symptoms

Q: What did this research study find?

Among Thai adolescents, **all identified substance-using classes had higher odds of elevated depressive symptoms** than the minimal/non-use class.

Association between latent classes of tobacco, e-cigarette, alcohol, and illicit drug use patterns and depression among Thai adolescents.

Addictive behaviors reports • August 26, 2026 • Moderately Relevant

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AI Summary

This cross-sectional observational study asked whether different patterns of substance use were associated with depressive symptoms among 9,188 Thai adolescents aged 16–17. Researchers used latent class analysis to group lifetime and recent use of tobacco, e-cigarettes, alcohol, and illicit substances, analyzing males separately from females and gender-diverse adolescents. Depressive symptoms were screened with the PHQ-2, using a score of 2 or higher to indicate elevated symptoms.

The researchers identified four substance-use classes among males and three among females and gender-diverse adolescents. Compared with adolescents in the minimal or non-use class, every substance-using class had higher odds of elevated depressive symptoms, with the highest odds generally found in the high polysubstance-use groups. Among males, the class involving experimental cannabis/kratom and tobacco-related use had odds comparable to the high polysubstance-use class. Because the study was cross-sectional, it found associations—not causation—and cannot determine whether substance use preceded depressive symptoms or the reverse. This is an abstract-based summary; the abstract does not establish treatment effects or provide detailed effect sizes.

💡 Key Findings

Among Thai adolescents, all identified substance-using classes had higher odds of elevated depressive symptoms than the minimal/non-use class.

High

80%

The highest odds of elevated depressive symptoms were generally observed in high polysubstance-use classes.

High

80%

Among males, the experimental cannabis/kratom and tobacco-related use class showed odds of elevated depressive symptoms comparable to the high polysubstance-use class.

Good

70%

The cross-sectional design identifies associations but cannot establish temporal relationships or causation; longitudinal research is needed.

High

95%

📄 Original Abstract

BACKGROUND: Adolescent substance use behaviors often co-occur and are associated with poorer mental health. While latent class analysis (LCA) has identified adolescent substance use patterns in high-income countries, evidence from Southeast Asia remains limited. AIM: To identify gender-stratified substance use patterns among Thai adolescents aged 16-17 years and examine their associations with elevated depressive symptoms. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 9188 Thai adolescents aged 16-17 years using data from the 5th Thai National School Survey on Alcohol Consumption, Substance Use and Other Health-Risk Behaviors. Fourteen indicators of lifetime and recent tobacco, e-cigarette, alcohol, and illicit substance use were included in gender-stratified LCA models. Elevated depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2; score ≥ 2). Logistic regression estimated associations between latent class membership and elevated depressive symptoms after adjustment for sociodemographic, academic, and lifestyle covariates. RESULTS: Four latent classes were identified among males and three among females and gender-diverse adolescents. Compared with the minimal/non-use class, all substance-using classes showed higher odds of elevated depressive symptoms. The highest odds were generally observed in the high polysubstance-use classes. Among males, the experimental cannabis/kratom and tobacco-related use class showed odds comparable to the high polysubstance-use class. CONCLUSIONS: Distinct gender-stratified substance use patterns were associated with elevated depressive symptoms among Thai adolescents. These findings extend evidence on adolescent substance use heterogeneity in Southeast Asia and support the use of latent class analysis to identify adolescents at greater mental health risk. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify temporal relationships.