Marijuana Use and Mental Illness Linked
Avid pot smokers don’t want to hear it, but more and more studies are coming out lately that say that marijuana abuse affects more than just your motivation; it affects your brain and, specifically, parts of your brain that control your psychological behavior. Summed up, it’s not just one study but many that are pinpointing marijuana abuse as part of the problem in cases of psychosis, schizophrenia and brain abnormalities.
What the Experts Say About Marijuana Abuse and Mental Illness
* One study put out by Cygnet Health Care, a British provider of psychiatric care for patients with psychological, emotional and addiction problems, and published in the British Journalo of Psychiatry and Medical News Today states that, “Teenage cannabis users are more likely to suffer psychotic symptoms that raise the risk of full-blown mental illness in later life.” The significance of this study is that psychosis was linked to the very earliest stages of marijuana usage. This means that no experimentation with the drug is harmless.
* Another study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, and Medical News Today found that long-term use of marijuana can lead to structural abnormalities in the hippocampus and amygdala. These areas are smaller in marijuana smokers, areas that regulate things like emotions, memory, fear and aggression. This translated into more symptoms of psychosis among marijuana users than those who did not use the drug.
Are You Experiencing Symptoms of Psychosis Due to Marijuana Abuse?
There are a number of different things that you may experience when you are addicted to or abuse marijuana, but the following symptoms of psychosis occur even when the “high” has worn off. Look for feelings of:
* Suspicion of being followed or that someone is trying to influence you
* Strange things are happening around you or to you
* Uncontrollable thoughts or speedy thoughts
Dr Zerrin Atakan is a consultant for Cygnet Health Care and has researched and written on the effects of marijuana. He says there is hope: “The provision of appropriate knowledge delivery on the subject and early intervention are both important to prevent the development of a psychotic illness.”
What Do You Think?
There are a number of studies that link long-term marijuana abuse to health problems and yet people are still pushing for legalization. These studies show that short-term use, too, can have an effect on people and further prove that among the long-term health consequences are psychological problems.
But what do you think? Marijuana: health risk or restorative drug?
Tags: Dual Diagnosis, marijuana abuse, Marijuana Addiction, marijuana and psychosis, marijuana treatment
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