Association between viewing more media war content and higher intention to use cannabis in adolescents: the indirect effect of post-traumatic stress

Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy. 2026 Jul 29;21(1):65. doi: 10.1186/s13011-026-00754-1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflicts increased the risk of multifront war, especially with bordering countries like Lebanon. In addition, with the increased use of media, graphic war content is easily transmitted to adolescents without regulation. This has significantly impacted their lives, mentally and physically, leading to the search for coping mechanisms like cannabis use. However, the exact link between war media exposure and cannabis use intention is still uncertain. This study aims to assess the hypothesis that PTSD can be a key mediator in the association between war media exposure and cannabis use intention in adolescents.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted, and data was collected from seven hundred fifty-eight adolescents from the general population of Lebanon that filled the survey, with a mean age of 16 years old.

RESULTS: The mediation analysis showed that the indirect effect of PTSD between war media exposure and cannabis use intention was significant (Beta = 0.01, BootSE = 0.01, 95% CI 0.001, 0.02). PTSD fully mediated the association between war media exposure and cannabis use intentions. Higher war media exposure was significantly associated with more PTSD, and higher PTSD was significantly associated with higher cannabis use intentions. Finally, war media exposure was not significantly associated with cannabis use intentions.

CONCLUSION: Watching disturbing war images can increase the risk of mental health morbidities like PTSD, which could lead, in turn, to intention to use cannabis to alleviate this mental burden. This suggests that assessing and treating PTSD could help prevent cannabis use among adolescents during war times.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

PMID:42855684 | DOI:10.1186/s13011-026-00754-1