By Dr Thomas Stuttaford Source: Times Online UK The most nostalgic of the 1968 emotionally scarred generation still believe that there is no association between cannabis and psychosis. Some will even suggest that cannabis smoking is preferable to drinking alcohol. This week a leading police officer advanced the theory on radio that crushing cannabis smoking in a district was detrimental to both the individual's health and to the law and order within the community. He said that in his experience the amount of cocaine taken in any one area is inversely proportional to the amount of cannabis used. Come down hard on the cannabis users and the result could be that there would be a cocaine problem. Doctors who have been dealing with the ill effects of cannabis smoking were therefore relieved to read in the BMJ about a recent study of cannabis use, and its ability to precipitate psychotic symptoms in young people, especially if they had already shown symptoms which suggested a predisposition to psychiatric problems. Most medical practices have had patients who were young, bright and amusingly bizarre who appeared to have a good future awaiting them, only to have it dashed once they started to smoke marijuana. There was a relationship between the amount of cannabis smoked and the likelihood that the user would develop psychotic symptoms. The more someone smoked the greater the likelihood of psychotic symptoms. These symptoms are not always so serious as to be described as a psychotic breakdown, but even lesser symptoms can affect the ability of a young person to do their job properly or to make good social relationships. The research published in the BMJ was carried out by psychiatrists in Maastricht in the Netherlands. They took great trouble to adjust the findings for any confounding factors, such as concurrent use of alcohol, cigarettes, or other drugs, which might have given a bias to results. The survey not only clearly demonstrated that exposure to cannabis during adolescence and young adulthood increased the risk of psychotic symptoms later in life but also confirmed other elements of the anecdotal evidence related by GPs. It showed, for instance, that as has always been suspected the association between smoking cannabis and the development of psychosis is much stronger if the smoker already has the type of personality that is associated with a predisposition to psychotic disease. This predisposition was assessed after a psychological study of the patient's personality. Many doctors, who haven't the skill and experience to do this, have noticed that a family history of a predisposition to psychotic diseases also increases the risk for cannabis smokers. It has been my habit to tell young people in families where this tendency is obvious that smoking cannabis may be, and in fact is, undesirable for most students but it can be disastrous for those who carry these genes. The results of the Dutch study confirms anecdotal evidence and three earlier studies that cannabis may precipitate a serious psychotic breakdown and can lead to the emergence of less severe symptoms. These changes in personality can undermine someone 's domestic life and career and lead to a lifetime of troubles. Studies published five years ago also showed that the more cannabis smoked the more likely a patient would be to develop cancer. Regular light marijuana smoking more than doubled the likelihood of developing cancer of the head and neck (this includes the tongue and mouth). Daily users of cannabis who smoke more than one spliff a day increase the chances of developing one of these tumours by five times. If they both smoked cigarettes regularly and took cannabis the chances increased 36 times. Marijuana appears as a stronger carcinogen than cigarettes, according to Professor Li Mao, from the M D Anderson Cancer Centre in Houston, Texas. Although cannabis may not be as detrimental to the heart and cardiovascular system as cocaine, researchers at Harvard found that the heart attack rate is five times higher for someone in the first hour after smoking a joint than it is at other times. Source: Times Online (UK) Author: Dr Thomas Stuttaford Published: January 07, 2005 Copyright: 2005 Times Newspapers Ltd. Contact: debate@thetimes.co.uk Website: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/
Working on a psyh ward, we've always been quite sure about that. But it's better to see an actual studi confirming our finds. But as far as I know and as the article stresses, too: This concerns mostly young or adolescent. I've never seen any relation between adult marijuane use and psychosis.
what exactly do you consider "young or adolescent"?...oh wait I found it up to 24 I think it says. but look at what it says "In the study, researchers used a broad definition of psychosis, ranging from occasionally hearing voices and paranoia to schizophrenia. " Who hasn't heard shit while they're stoned, or been paranoid? Those are pretty regular occurances, once you get used to them it's kinda neat....they always tell me to kill.....KILL!!
i read it all and didnt understand any of it. but from the post above mine i take it its about parnoia? yea i get paranoid when i smoke sometimes, i dont mind i just remind myself taht i'm paranoid and i'll forget about it
I'd usually say adolescent is just under 25. Hearing voices while paranoid and really trying listen is not considered psychotic, I think. Just a harmless mind trick. Hearing voices aloud and being able to have a talk with'em would be worse.
Studies published five years ago also showed that the more cannabis smoked the more likely a patient would be to develop cancer. Regular light marijuana smoking more than doubled the likelihood of developing cancer of the head and neck (this includes the tongue and mouth). Daily users of cannabis who smoke more than one spliff a day increase the chances of developing one of these tumours by five times. If they both smoked cigarettes regularly and took cannabis the chances increased 36 times. 'Doh!
haha. right. well i smoke all the time and dont get paranoid. smoking doesnt make people pyscho, it chills everyone out. weed is basically does the same thing as xanax or lithium without the addictive effects.. smoke out!
ok Hmmm people determined to be predisposed to Psychotic ilness are more likley to be Psychotic if they smoke Mj......hmmm they are also more likley to be Psychotic in general even without mj are they not.Did they do a study to see if public schools the way they are run nowdays make em more Psychotic also.... Or ritilan? sounds like they are grasping at straws to connect mj and Psychotic behavior to me. As for paranoia ------ hmmmmm they arent after the mj smokers are they,dont bust down doors or use helicopters to find you using military equipment, It not paranoia they are out to get us.