Cannabis use is common among justice-involved youth, but why is this the case? What role does early-life trauma play in the development of substance use, and could hopelessness be a key psychological factor in this process?

This research explores the relationship between childhood trauma, trait hopelessness, and cannabis use among detained adolescents. The study explores whether hopelessness—a persistent negative outlook on the future that often stems from chronic adversity—might function as a psychological mechanism linking traumatic experiences to substance use behavior.

Rooted in theories such as the Self-Medication Hypothesis, Learned Helplessness, and Hope Theory, the study examines how emotional and motivational vulnerabilities develop in response to trauma. It proposes a mediation model in which youth who have experienced significant trauma may develop hopelessness, which in turn could lead to the use of cannabis as an avoidant coping strategy.

By focusing on justice-involved youth in the Netherlands—a group with high rates of both trauma exposure and cannabis use—this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the emotional underpinnings of substance use. The aim is to inform more compassionate, trauma-informed approaches to support and intervention.