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The420Guy
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LONDON - Smoking cannabis increases the odds of suffering from depression
and schizophrenia, doctors said today.
The occasional marijuana cigarette may not be harmful, but people who start
using cannabis as teens have a higher risk, and the severity of the illness
is linked to the length of exposure to the drug.
''Very young adolescents who use cannabis have an increased risk for
developing schizoprehenia as adults and the most at risk are the youngest
users,'' said Dr. Louise Arseneault, of Kings College in London.
Doctors do not understand how cannabis increases the risk of schizophrenia
and depression but they suspect it affects the dopamine system in the
brain, which is associated with pleasure. It is thought the drug can
trigger the onset or relapse of schizophrenia in people predisposed to the
illness and may also exacerbate the symptoms.
In a study of 1,037 people born in New Zealand between 1972-73, Arseneault
found that those who began using cannabis as teens were four times more
likely to suffer from psychiatric problems as adults than adolescents who
did not use the drug.
''The earlier you start, the more vulnerable you are,'' she said.
Her findings, which are reported in The British Medical Journal, are
supported by two other studies in the magazine that found similar results.
Researchers at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute in Victoria,
Australia, found that teenage girls who frequently used the drug were more
likely to suffer from depression and anxiety than other adolescents.
Another study of more than 50,000 Swedish enlisted men showed the use of
cannabis increased the risk of schizophrenia by 30 percent.
Schizophrenia is the most common form of severe mental illness. The cause
of the disorder, which is characterized by unusual behavior, delusions, and
hallucinations is unknown but scientists say it affects chemicals in the brain.
By Patricia Reaney, Reuters, 11/22/2002
This story ran on page A14 of the Boston Globe on 11/22/2002.
and schizophrenia, doctors said today.
The occasional marijuana cigarette may not be harmful, but people who start
using cannabis as teens have a higher risk, and the severity of the illness
is linked to the length of exposure to the drug.
''Very young adolescents who use cannabis have an increased risk for
developing schizoprehenia as adults and the most at risk are the youngest
users,'' said Dr. Louise Arseneault, of Kings College in London.
Doctors do not understand how cannabis increases the risk of schizophrenia
and depression but they suspect it affects the dopamine system in the
brain, which is associated with pleasure. It is thought the drug can
trigger the onset or relapse of schizophrenia in people predisposed to the
illness and may also exacerbate the symptoms.
In a study of 1,037 people born in New Zealand between 1972-73, Arseneault
found that those who began using cannabis as teens were four times more
likely to suffer from psychiatric problems as adults than adolescents who
did not use the drug.
''The earlier you start, the more vulnerable you are,'' she said.
Her findings, which are reported in The British Medical Journal, are
supported by two other studies in the magazine that found similar results.
Researchers at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute in Victoria,
Australia, found that teenage girls who frequently used the drug were more
likely to suffer from depression and anxiety than other adolescents.
Another study of more than 50,000 Swedish enlisted men showed the use of
cannabis increased the risk of schizophrenia by 30 percent.
Schizophrenia is the most common form of severe mental illness. The cause
of the disorder, which is characterized by unusual behavior, delusions, and
hallucinations is unknown but scientists say it affects chemicals in the brain.
By Patricia Reaney, Reuters, 11/22/2002
This story ran on page A14 of the Boston Globe on 11/22/2002.
