Recreational Drugs More Than Double Stroke Risk, Major Study Warns
A comprehensive review of medical data from more than 100 million individuals has revealed that recreational drug use can more than double the risk of suffering a stroke. The findings highlight particularly alarming impacts among younger populations, with amphetamine users under the age of 55 facing a near tripling in stroke risk.
Stark Increases in Stroke Risk Linked to Specific Substances
Scientists analysed pooled data from 32 studies on stroke and recreational drugs, involving over 100 million people globally. The research found that compared to non-users, amphetamine users had a 122% higher risk of stroke, while cocaine users faced a 96% increased risk. Cannabis use was associated with a 37% greater stroke risk, though no evidence linked opioids to elevated stroke risk.
Dr Megan Ritson, a research associate at the University of Cambridge and first author of the study, emphasised the preventable nature of this risk. "Illicit drug use is a preventable stroke risk, but I don’t know if young people are aware how high the risk is," she stated. "This is the first finding that has shown how different substance use disorders really can impact stroke risk."
Younger Users Face Disproportionate Dangers
The rise in strokes connected to drug use was not limited to older demographics. When researchers focused on individuals under 55, they observed a near tripling in stroke risk among amphetamine users. In this age group, the additional risk linked to cannabis was a more modest 14%, while cocaine use maintained a similarly high risk at 97%.
Strokes occur when blood vessels in the brain become blocked or burst, disrupting blood supply and causing brain cells to die. As the third leading cause of death and disability worldwide, strokes result in over 7 million deaths annually, with millions more suffering permanent disabilities such as paralysis or cognitive impairment.
Mechanisms Behind Drug-Induced Stroke Risk
The study, published in the International Journal of Stroke, explored how drugs might elevate stroke risk. Amphetamines and cocaine can cause blood pressure to soar and constrict blood vessels in the brain, increasing the likelihood of both bleeds and blockages. Cocaine also appears to accelerate atherosclerosis, where cholesterol and fats build up in arteries, leading to hardening and narrowing. Cannabis similarly constricts blood vessels and may encourage blood clot formation.
To strengthen their findings, researchers conducted additional analyses to determine if drugs were the probable cause of higher stroke risk. They examined whether individuals genetically predisposed to drug disorders were more likely to suffer strokes and found a correlation, supporting the theory that drugs themselves are to blame rather than other health factors in users.
Global Trends and Public Health Implications
These results are concerning given the rise in global recreational drug use over the past decade. According to United Nations estimates, approximately 300 million people now consume illicit drugs regularly, including 228 million cannabis users, 30 million amphetamine users, and 23 million cocaine users.
Juliet Bouverie, chief executive at the Stroke Association, warned of the cardiovascular stress caused by these substances. "These substances put a person’s cardiovascular system under huge amounts of stress which can lead to increased blood clotting, narrowing of blood vessels and damage to the circulatory system – all of which can lead to stroke," she explained. "Regular use of cocaine can also lead to high blood pressure, which is the cause of around half of all strokes."
Bouverie added that strokes are increasingly affecting people of all ages, leaving 240 individuals daily with life-changing disabilities, yet 90% of strokes are preventable. She advised adopting healthy lifestyle measures, such as eating a balanced diet, limiting alcohol, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking, vaping, or illegal drug use, to reduce stroke risk.
