Marijuana Linked to Schizophrenia, Depression..

[IGBT]

Text

..do you hear voices?? smoke dope?? ..think your just recreational using??..

Some scientists believe marijuana doesn't cause psychiatric illness. Rather, they argue, people smoke it as a way to self-medicate. However, the authors of the Swedish study say their evidence suggests that now seems unlikely.

In the third study, scientists in Australia found that teens who smoked marijuana at least once a week were twice as likely as less frequent users to suffer depression or anxiety over the next seven years. Girls who used the drug every day had between five and six times the rate of these conditions as non-users.

The study also found that teens with emotional problems at the beginning of the study weren't more likely to take up marijuana in the future -- suggesting that self-medication wasn't a factor.

 

[kogase]

Repost... of a Riprorin thread!

Edit: Maybe not...

 

[azazyel]

http://www.maps.org/pipermail/maps_forum/2002-December/005248.html


In the Patton study from Australia, the only real increased association
involved depressed and anxious girls who smoked cannabis daily. They did
not have excess use of other substances, and that was taken to mean that
cannabis must have had a causal effect. Notably, no one analyzed why the
subjects smoked, or confirmed diagnoses via more specific testing. There
is more heat than light.

It is quite possible that many of the patients had symptoms of one kind
or another that were alleviated in some fashion by cannabis (e.g, the
depression, anxiety or even gynecological issues such as endometriosis).
Why would they use more tobacco, alcohol or other drugs to try to treat
their symptoms? They would not help, and would not necessarily be sought
out preferentially.

The Zammit study from Sweden on schizophrenia is most suspect. They
examined Swedish conscripts from 1969. This investigation seems to be an
attempt to rehabilitate an extremely criticized study of the same cohort
published in 1987 by Andreasson et al:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&lis
t_uids=2892048&dopt=Abstract

Zimmer and Morgan savaged this study in Marijuana Myths, Marijuana
Facts.

The current authors claim that, based on their data, up to 13% of
schizophrenia incidence could be attributable to cannabis. This is an
unsubstantiated and outrageous allegation. Keep in mind that only 1.4%
of the conscripts that ever smoked cannabis wound up schizophrenic. Men
of such age are at the critical time of development of the disorder. All
of the eventual schizophrenics in the earlier study were recognized to
have some psychiatric issue before they entered the service!

As they say, "Garbage in, garbage out." I would add, "Garbage is not
worthy of rehabilitation."

 

[EatSpam]

When I used to smoke, the only side effect I noticed was a desire to eat junk food.

 

[Todd33]

I'd have to go with... so?

Look at all the ill that comes from Tobacco and alcohol use, is it outlawed? I'm no fan of smoking anything, but trying to demonize pot while letting people drink and smoke is just bias. Attack the drug choice of hippies and let the rich drink bourbon? I say outlaw it all or legalize it all.

 

[arsbanned]

Alcohol is good for you though.

 

[ahurtt]

Originally posted by: arsbanned
Alcohol is good for you though.

If by "good for you" you mean "ruins people's lives" then yah, ok it is good for you.

 

[Moonbeam]

Clearly the thought of marajuana drives some people crazy.

There is a huge link between schizophrenia and famine.

 

[Todd33]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
Clearly the thought of marajuana drives some people crazy.

There is a huge link between schizophrenia and famine.

And probably schizophrenia and living in places where it is dark or light too many hours a day.

Probably lots of scientific links, but there is good money in attacking pot.

 

[azazyel]

Originally posted by: Todd33

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
Clearly the thought of marajuana drives some people crazy.

There is a huge link between schizophrenia and famine.

And probably schizophrenia and living in places where it is dark or light too many hours a day.

Probably lots of scientific links, but there is good money in attacking pot.

Seattle has one of the highest suicide rates in the country. Now, is it because it's dark for most of the year or because of smoking dope? hmmmmm

 

[Todd33]

And Seattle has high pot use? Proof?

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

It's a well known concept amongst psychiatrists that MJ can precipitate a psychotic episode in ~1% of the population . . . we don't call that "causing" schizophrenia.

A synthetic (soon to be approved) drug that blocks the ganja receptor (CB1) in the brain was tested in the 90s as an antipsychotic. It didn't work at all. But it clearly did something b/c people ate less, lost weight, smoked less, and drank (alcohol) less.

The Swedish study doesn't really provide much evidence that people with psychiatric illness do NOT self-medicate. It provides even less evidence of causation (MJ --> psychotic or mood disorders).

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
It's a well known concept amongst psychiatrists that MJ can precipitate a psychotic episode in ~1% of the population . . . we don't call that "causing" schizophrenia.

A synthetic (soon to be approved) drug that blocks the ganja receptor (CB1) in the brain was tested in the 90s as an antipsychotic. It didn't work at all. But it clearly did something b/c people ate less, lost weight, smoked less, and drank (alcohol) less.

The Swedish study doesn't really provide much evidence that people with psychiatric illness do NOT self-medicate. It provides even less evidence of causation (MJ --> psychotic or mood disorders).

But it makes the prohibitionists happy and tranquilizes their consciences. All they really ask for is some words that grass is bad.

 

[Siva]

I have seen posts this study before, and it has been torn to shreds each and every time it pops up. It hasn't been published in any sort of reputable source (journal, major news organization) and is not even considered by scientific peers. There is no statistically significant evidence from a study that has repeated the results to say marijuana can be linked to any sort of mental illness. Then again, that doesn't mean it isn't true, but I think the link between weed and mental illness is highly unlikely. From personal experience I find myself a whole lot more relaxed if I've been smoking regularly than not.

And on that note it may be time to pack up a bong

 

[imported_Condor]

Liberals!

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
It's a well known concept amongst psychiatrists that MJ can precipitate a psychotic episode in ~1% of the population . . . we don't call that "causing" schizophrenia.

A synthetic (soon to be approved) drug that blocks the ganja receptor (CB1) in the brain was tested in the 90s as an antipsychotic. It didn't work at all. But it clearly did something b/c people ate less, lost weight, smoked less, and drank (alcohol) less.

The Swedish study doesn't really provide much evidence that people with psychiatric illness do NOT self-medicate. It provides even less evidence of causation (MJ --> psychotic or mood disorders).

But it makes the prohibitionists happy and tranquilizes their consciences. All they really ask for is some words that grass is bad.

Marjiuana is just as bad as tobacco, that's basically it. Along with the onset of munchies...

Other than that, it should at least be decriminalized....

 

[slurmsmackenzie]

my grandmother had knee surgery a few years back. she took the "meds" her doc gave her but the side effects from such powerful drugs were hardly worth it. on top of that, it didn't kill the pain. i gave her a few nugs of crypknots and she was feeling great and still had enough energy and presence of mind to accomplish her daily tasks.

ANYTHING in excess can be damaging. with that said, moderate pot smoking is good for the mind, body, and soul.

"excuse me while i light my spliff, oh god i've got to take a lift"

 

[shurato]

If you don't like it. Don't smoke it. Doesn't do anyone harm except make them fat and lazy. And obviously we don't need weed to cause that here in the US now do we.

 

[ShadesOfGrey]

hey man, this thread is bringing me down, man. Don't be a tool of "the man", pass the bong.
(you're not a cop are you)

:laugh:

 

[sapiens74]

Depressed you can't find any?

 

[IGBT]

..so tell me. Are you guys recreational dopers or medicinal dopers??

 

[judasmachine]

sobriety is a cause of depression...

trust me i don't need a story or study to tell me that.

 

[BMGSkulk]

Originally posted by: Todd33
I'd have to go with... so?

Look at all the ill that comes from Tobacco and alcohol use, is it outlawed? I'm no fan of smoking anything, but trying to demonize pot while letting people drink and smoke is just bias. Attack the drug choice of hippies and let the rich drink bourbon? I say outlaw it all or legalize it all.

QFT...though I drink very seldom anymore, and gave up weed some years ago.