A major new study suggests that recreational drugs, including cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis, can more than double the risk of stroke in young people.
The findings, drawn from medical data covering more than 100 million people, showed that stroke risk was 122% higher among amphetamine users, 96% higher among cocaine users and 37% higher among cannabis users compared with people who did not take these drugs. The study also found that ‘problematic alcohol use’ was linked to an increased risk of cardioembolic and large artery stroke, while alcohol addiction raised overall stroke risk.
When researchers restricted their analysis to people under the age of 55, the effects of recreational drug use were even more pronounced. Amphetamine use was linked to an almost threefold increase in stroke risk (174%), while cocaine and cannabis were associated with increases of 97% and 14% respectively.
Why Recreational Drugs Increase Stroke Risk
Researchers from the University of Cambridge suggested several biological mechanisms could explain the link. Recreational drugs can cause sudden spikes in blood pressure, blood vessel spasms and constriction, heart rhythm problems, increased blood clotting and inflammation or vasculitis – all factors associated with a higher risk of stroke.
‘This is the most comprehensive analysis ever conducted on recreational drug use and stroke risk and provides compelling evidence that drugs like cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis are causal risk factors for stroke,’ said Dr Megan Ritson from the Stroke Research Group at the University of Cambridge. ‘These findings give us stronger evidence to guide future research and public health strategies.’
In 2024, 2.9 million people – around 8.8% of adults aged 16 to 59 in England and Wales – reported using a legal or illegal recreational drug in the previous year. While studies like this add to the growing body of evidence linking drug use with stroke risk, the University of Cambridge noted that it remains ‘impossible to say whether the use of these drugs itself increases the risk of stroke, or whether this is purely a correlation.’
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Strokes remain the third leading cause of death and disability combined, and the condition is heavily influenced by lifestyle factors, including diet, physical activity and other health behaviours beyond drug use.
The findings also add to growing concern about stroke risk in the UK. Around 100,000 strokes occur each year, and data from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) suggests they are happening earlier in life, with a median age of 70. Every day, strokes leave around 240 people with life-changing disabilities, and it’s estimated that roughly nine out of 10 cases are preventable.
The Most Common Warning Signs of a Stroke
The most common warning signs of a stroke are summarised by the acronym FAST: face drooping (F), arm weakness (A), slurred or confused speech (S) and time to call emergency services (T) on 999.
Other symptoms can include sudden numbness, confusion, vision loss, dizziness, nausea or vomiting and a severe headache with no known cause. People may also experience weakness or numbness on one side of the body, blurred vision or loss of sight in one or both eyes, memory problems or vomiting.
Even if symptoms are mild or disappear quickly – often referred to as a ‘mini-stroke’ – it’s still vital to call emergency services as soon as possible. When it comes to stroke treatment, every minute counts in preventing long-term brain damage, so recognising the early warning signs can make all the difference.
Ed Cooper is the former Deputy Digital Editor at Men’s Health UK, writing and editing about anything you want to know about — from tech to fitness, mental health to style, food and so much more. Ed has run the MH gauntlet, including transformations, marathons and er website re-designs. He’s awful at pub sports, though. Follow him: @EA_Cooper
