Amphetamines May Triple Stroke Risk in Under-55s, Cambridge Study Finds

A Cambridge-led systematic review of eight studies and over 100 million individuals links recreational use of amphetamine, cocaine, and cannabis to higher stroke risk, with amphetamines showing the strongest association and under-55 users facing a nearly threefold increase. Cocaine also doubles risk, cannabis raises risk modestly (especially for ischemic stroke), while opioids show no clear link. Genetic analyses support a causal relationship for some stroke types, but many findings rely on self-reported data and can be influenced by confounding factors; results vary by age and stroke type, and further research is needed.