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 Cannabis Use Tied to 37% Higher Stroke Risk






A study involving more than 100 million people has uncovered strong links between recreational drug use and stroke risk, especially among younger adults. According to the University of Cambridge team, cocaine use nearly doubled the risk of stroke, amphetamines more than doubled it, and cannabis use was associated with a 37% increase (University of Cambridge, 2026).

Drugs and Stroke: A Closer Look

Stroke remains one of the world’s leading causes of death and disability. While major risk factors—like diet, inactivity, and high blood pressure—are well known and modifiable, recreational drug use is often overlooked. Yet, in 2024, nearly 9% of adults aged 16 to 59 in England and Wales—about 2.9 million people—reported using a recreational drug over the previous year. In the US, more than half of people over age 12 have tried substances such as cocaine, cannabis, or opiates at least once (ONS, 2025; SAMHSA, 2025).

The Evidence: Meta-Analysis of 100 Million People

Although previous studies hinted at a connection between drug use and stroke, many were too small or inconsistent to prove causation. That’s why Cambridge researchers conducted a meta-analysis—combining data from multiple cohort studies and covering more than 100 million participants. This approach allowed them to draw stronger conclusions (International Journal of Stroke, 2026).

Their findings were clear:

  • Cocaine use increased stroke risk by 96%

  • Amphetamines raised risk by 122%

  • Cannabis use led to a 37% increase

  • Opioid use showed no significant effect

Younger Adults Face Higher Risks

When the team looked at people under 55, the risks were even starker. Amphetamine use was linked to a 174% increase in stroke risk. Cocaine pushed risk up by 97%. Cannabis’s effect was smaller in this group—a 14% increase—but still notable.

Is It the Drugs Themselves?

To dig deeper, the researchers turned to Mendelian randomization, a technique that uses genetic variants to tease apart causation from correlation. Their genetic analysis showed that cocaine use disorders were especially associated with brain hemorrhage and cardioembolic stroke (when a clot from the heart blocks blood flow in the brain). Cannabis use disorders, meanwhile, were tied to stroke overall, and particularly to large artery strokes (Ritson et al., 2026).

Alcohol misuse also increased the risk of cardioembolic and large artery stroke, while alcohol addiction raised overall stroke risk.

(The team couldn’t apply the same genetic approach to amphetamines, due to a lack of large datasets.)

Why Do These Drugs Raise Stroke Risk?

Several mechanisms could explain the findings: sudden spikes in blood pressure, spasms or narrowing of blood vessels, irregular heart rhythms, increased blood clotting (especially with cannabis), and inflammation or vasculitis (especially with amphetamines). All of these processes are known contributors to both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes (Harshfield et al., 2026).

Expert Commentary

“This is the most comprehensive analysis ever conducted on recreational drug use and stroke risk,” said Dr. Megan Ritson of Cambridge’s Stroke Research Group. “The evidence now points to drugs like cocaine, amphetamines, and cannabis as causal risk factors for stroke.”

Dr. Eric Harshfield, an Alzheimer’s Society Research Fellow, added: “Our analysis suggests these drugs themselves increase stroke risk, not just other lifestyle factors among users. Public health efforts to reduce substance abuse may also help cut stroke rates.”

The British Heart Foundation funded the study, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Center supported it.

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