The Guardian – Medical research

Recreational Drugs Can More than Double Risk of Stroke, Study Suggests

A large meta‑analysis of 32 studies involving over 100 million people found that recreational drug use significantly raises stroke risk. Amphetamine users face a 122 % higher risk, cocaine users 96 % higher, and cannabis users 37 % higher compared with non‑users. The risk is especially pronounced in people under 55, where amphetamine use nearly triples stroke incidence. Opioid use showed no measurable increase in stroke risk, suggesting the effect is drug‑specific.