Recreational drugs can more than double risk of stroke, study suggests
Guardian1 day
Study: Amphetamines Double Stroke Risk
Do amphetamines directly cause strokes or do lifestyle factors among users explain the risk?
Above: People participated in the 2025 Marijuana March in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on June 14, 2025. Image credit: Faga Almeida/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Amphetamines more than double stroke risk, with users under 55 facing a nearly threefold increase. The biological mechanisms are clear — sudden blood pressure spikes, vessel spasms, heart rhythm disruptions and increased clotting all directly cause strokes. This comprehensive analysis of over 100 million people provides compelling causal evidence that demands immediate public health action.
Narrative B
Recreational drug use correlates with higher stroke rates, but lifestyle factors among users likely explain much of the risk. Drug users often have poorer general health, worse diets and less exercise. The observational studies cannot prove causation, and focusing solely on drug prohibition ignores the broader preventable lifestyle choices that account for nine out of 10 strokes.