Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD) is characterized by a set of behaviors that are brought on by fetal alcohol exposure during utero, causing an abnormal neurodevelopmental process [3]. Despite it being preventable, approximately 2% to 5% of United States schoolchildren are impacted by prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), with 6-9 out of 1,000 actually being diagnosed with this disorder [1,2,3]. Severe consequences of fetal ethanol exposure consist of miscarriages, stillbirths, and premature delivery [2].
As more states have legalized the recreational use of marijuana, its use among adolescents is increasing. This is problematic because marijuana's psychoactive component, THC, can act directly on parts of the brain in critical development during adolescence. Current literature proposes long-term cognitive effects based on recurring correlations; however, a lack of consistent and reliable approaches for controlling confounding variables remains an issue. This review will focus on the current state of research on the effects of adolescent marijuana use on cognitive function, its potential long-term consequences, and highlight the inconsistencies in research methodologies.
