HealthDay (11/21, Thompson, Miller) says, “Genetics could explain why some people can’t stop smoking weed, a…study reports. Analysis of the genomes of more than 1 million people has revealed dozens of genetic variants linked to cannabis use disorder, according to the Yale-led research team.” These “variants also are associated with a variety of behavioral and health issues linked to cannabis use disorder – and possibly even an elevated risk of lung cancer.” Prior studies have “shown that about a third of people who use marijuana develop cannabis use disorder, which is defined as a pattern of cannabis use that impairs a person’s daily life.” The study was published in Nature Genetics.

Related Links:

— “Genome Study Explains Marijuana’s Habit-Forming Potential,”Dennis Thompson, Carole Tanzer Miller, HealthDay , November 21, 2023

MedPage Today (11/20, Monaco) reports, “Children of parents with infertility had a slightly higher rate of autism spectrum disorder, a population-based cohort study of over 1.3 million children found.” Investigators found that “compared with children born from unassisted conception, parents who experienced subfertility but didn’t undergo fertility treatment had children with a 20% higher risk of autism.” The findingswere published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

Psychiatric News (11/20) reports the “APA released a statement…commemorating the life and legacy of Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 96.” During “her public service career, Mrs. Carter worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for people with mental illness and substance use disorders.” The statement says, “She used her bully pulpit to bring the conversation about mental health out from the darkness and advocate for a more comprehensive system of care.”

Related Links:

— “APA Remembers the Mental Health Legacy of Rosalynn Carter, Psychiatric News, November 20, 2023

USA Today (11/20, Rodriguez) reports that while the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline “has likely helped millions of people in crisis since its launch in July 2022, mental health experts say the nationwide public health program is far from perfect.” Among the hurdles the lifeline faces are a “lack of stable funding, lack of awareness and the absence of mental health resources.” These “have prevented the lifeline from realizing its full potential, experts say.”

Related Links:

— “An epic challenge: Running the 988 crisis line as the US suicide rate rises,”Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, November 20, 2023

CNN International (11/17, Rogers) reported climate change “is a potentially lethal threat” for “people with mental health problems such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or anxiety.” In June 2021, “during a record-breaking heat wave in British Columbia…8% of people who died from the extreme heat had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, according to a March study. That made the disorder a more dangerous risk factor than all other conditions the authors studied, including kidney disease and coronary artery disease.” American Psychiatric Association Representative to the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health Robert Feder, MD, said, “Until climate change gets under control, things are only going to get worse unfortunately. … As the temperature keeps increasing, these effects are going to be magnified. There’s going to be more storms, more fires, and people are going to be more worried about what could happen because a lot more things are happening.”

Related Links:

— “As Earth’s temperature rises, so do deaths among people with mental health problems,”Kristen Rogers, CNN, November 17, 2023