Marijuana Significantly Increases a Person's Risk for Schizophrenia

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: Krazefinn
However, no apparent signs/symptoms of psychosis does not mean they were not latent.

Yea, that's in there also. People with a family history are even more susceptible.

FWIW, my ex (who is now experiencing psychotic episodes) was a heavy user in her teens. As were her two brothers - both of whom are now dead of suicide. One had acute schizophrenia, and the other was likely developing it.

cannabinoid intoxication may unmask the symtoms...
its going to need much more study.

"please pass that over again..."

or, " I should know, I've been doing it 25 yrs, and its never bothered us"

 

[vrbaba]

hahah, finally a thread which showcases a bad effect of marijuana

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: wkabel23
responsible drug use is possible (and it won't ruin your life!)

You're joking, right? Maybe it's possible for a drug like marijuana to not completely ruin your life, but there is no such thing as "responsible drug use" for the heavier stuff (I'm assuming you mean illicit drugs).

 

[Accipiter22]

Originally posted by: Armitage
I've been doing some research on Schizophrenia and came across this bit. I'm sure it will kick up a firestorm here, so I'm just going to drop this one in here and run.

http://www.schizophrenia.com/prevention/cannabis.marijuana.schizophrenia.html

Overview: Use of street drugs (especially marijuana/hash/cannabis) have been linked with significantly increased probability of developing schizophrenia. This link has been documented in over 30 different scientific studies (studies done mostly in the UK, Australia and Sweden) over the past 20 years. In one example, a study interviewed 50,000 members of the Swedish Army about their drug consumption and followed up with them later in life. Those who were heavy consumers of cannabis at age 18 were over 600% more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia over the next 15 years than those did not take it. (see diagram below). Experts estimate that between 8% and 13% of all schizophrenia cases are linked to marijuna / cannabis use during teen years.

A recent Dutch study showed that teenagers who indulge in cannabis as few as five times in their life significantly increase their risk of psychotic symptoms.

"People with such a vulnerability (a family history of mental illness) should avoid cannabis like the plague," he said.

I love stats. Here's one I liked correlation =/= cause. It could be that something about the genetic makeup of people who are pre-inclined to schizophrenia are more LIKELY to smoke marijuana. Another strong correlation is to cigarettes, or anything with nicotine in it. A vast vast vast majority of people with schizoid type disorders smoke or engage in some sort of nicotine gratifying behavior.

 

[Chryso]

Originally posted by: Crono

Originally posted by: wkabel23
responsible drug use is possible (and it won't ruin your life!)

You're joking, right? Maybe it's possible for a drug like marijuana to not completely ruin your life, but there is no such thing as "responsible drug use" for the heavier stuff (I'm assuming you mean illicit drugs).

I think he means bourbon.

 

[Krazefinn]

Armitage, I was going to ask you 'bout the x. Got the kids for the weekend?
best wishes to you and your family, stay strong.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: Accipiter22

Originally posted by: Armitage
I've been doing some research on Schizophrenia and came across this bit. I'm sure it will kick up a firestorm here, so I'm just going to drop this one in here and run.

http://www.schizophrenia.com/prevention/cannabis.marijuana.schizophrenia.html

Overview: Use of street drugs (especially marijuana/hash/cannabis) have been linked with significantly increased probability of developing schizophrenia. This link has been documented in over 30 different scientific studies (studies done mostly in the UK, Australia and Sweden) over the past 20 years. In one example, a study interviewed 50,000 members of the Swedish Army about their drug consumption and followed up with them later in life. Those who were heavy consumers of cannabis at age 18 were over 600% more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia over the next 15 years than those did not take it. (see diagram below). Experts estimate that between 8% and 13% of all schizophrenia cases are linked to marijuna / cannabis use during teen years.

A recent Dutch study showed that teenagers who indulge in cannabis as few as five times in their life significantly increase their risk of psychotic symptoms.

"People with such a vulnerability (a family history of mental illness) should avoid cannabis like the plague," he said.

I love stats. Here's one I liked correlation =/= cause.

Do you really think the people doing this research don't understand that? Check out some of the other links & quotes that talk about self-medication being considered & accounted for.

 

[ggnl]

Originally posted by: djheater

Originally posted by: kranky
One person doesn't define a trend, of course, but I know exactly one person who is schizophrenic and that person was a very heavy doper in his teens.

Interesting because I've never heard that connection before.

I'll make it more interesting. I know wxactly one person who is severely schizophrenic and they were a heavy doper in their teens too.

interesting...

I'll make it a little less interesting. I know exactly one person who is severely schizophrenic and they have never touched dope in their life.

But, as has been stated, annecdotal evidence means exactly zilch AFAIC. Along those same lines, statistical evidence means exactly zilch AFAIC, especially on topics as contraversial as pot where those involved in the studies might be motivated to twist the statistics in order to support their agenda. I'll believe it when someone uncovers the actual physiological effects responsible for the so-called correlation.

 

[wkabel23]

Originally posted by: Crono

Originally posted by: wkabel23
responsible drug use is possible (and it won't ruin your life!)

You're joking, right? Maybe it's possible for a drug like marijuana to not completely ruin your life, but there is no such thing as "responsible drug use" for the heavier stuff (I'm assuming you mean illicit drugs).

what do you consider to be heavier stuff?

something like heroin, yes is impossible to use responsibly. but if you're a responsible individual you're smart enough to know that you should stay the fvck away from heroin.

 

[Krazefinn]

Smoking is something like 90% more prevalent in the psychotic demographic than the general population. Something like 95% of all thos DIAGNOSED w psychosis smoke cigarettes.

definitely will need more study....but good topic and links...

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: Accipiter22

Originally posted by: Armitage
I've been doing some research on Schizophrenia and came across this bit. I'm sure it will kick up a firestorm here, so I'm just going to drop this one in here and run.

http://www.schizophrenia.com/prevention/cannabis.marijuana.schizophrenia.html

Overview: Use of street drugs (especially marijuana/hash/cannabis) have been linked with significantly increased probability of developing schizophrenia. This link has been documented in over 30 different scientific studies (studies done mostly in the UK, Australia and Sweden) over the past 20 years. In one example, a study interviewed 50,000 members of the Swedish Army about their drug consumption and followed up with them later in life. Those who were heavy consumers of cannabis at age 18 were over 600% more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia over the next 15 years than those did not take it. (see diagram below). Experts estimate that between 8% and 13% of all schizophrenia cases are linked to marijuna / cannabis use during teen years.

A recent Dutch study showed that teenagers who indulge in cannabis as few as five times in their life significantly increase their risk of psychotic symptoms.

"People with such a vulnerability (a family history of mental illness) should avoid cannabis like the plague," he said.

I love stats. Here's one I liked correlation =/= cause. It could be that something about the genetic makeup of people who are pre-inclined to schizophrenia are more LIKELY to smoke marijuana. Another strong correlation is to cigarettes, or anything with nicotine in it. A vast vast vast majority of people with schizoid type disorders smoke or engage in some sort of nicotine gratifying behavior.

Actually ... here's a bone for all the smokers:

http://www.schizophrenia.com/prevention/nicotine.html

A long-term research study (published in 2003) of more than 50,000 Swedish military conscripts suggests that early cigarette smoking may provide a shield against schizophrenia. After a variety of other possible influences were accounted for, men who smoked cigarettes at the time of conscription (ages 18-20) were less likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia during the following 27 years.

The more they smoked, the lower the chance of developing schizophrenia. Each increase of one half pack per day reduced the risk by about 10%, up to 1 and 1/2 packs per day. The association did not hold in the first five years after conscription, but some men diagnosed during that time may already have been suffering from unrecognized early symptoms in late adolescence.

I've seen this somewhere else as well - smoking tobacco may really be a form of self-medication. This is one of the same studies that found the link between cannibis & schizophrenia.

 

[RCN]

Originally posted by: Armitage

Do you really think the people doing this research don't understand that? Check out some of the other links & quotes that talk about self-medication being considered & accounted for.

I'm sure they understood.
I would say there has to be a little more to this though. Why are the 14 year olds smoking daily?

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: wkabel23

Originally posted by: Crono

Originally posted by: wkabel23
responsible drug use is possible (and it won't ruin your life!)

You're joking, right? Maybe it's possible for a drug like marijuana to not completely ruin your life, but there is no such thing as "responsible drug use" for the heavier stuff (I'm assuming you mean illicit drugs).

what do you consider to be heavier stuff?

Cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, meth, etc.

 

[azazyel]

From one of the other linked studies. Just seemed a little odd...

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined samples of people with cannabis-induced psychotic symptoms. AIMS: To establish whether cannabis-induced psychotic disorders are followed by development of persistent psychotic conditions, and the timing of their onset. METHOD: Data on patients treated for cannabis-induced psychotic symptoms between 1994 and 1999 were extracted from the Danish Psychiatric Central Register. Those previously treated for any psychotic symptoms were excluded. The remaining 535 patients were followed for at least 3 years. In a separate analysis, the sample was compared with people referred for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders for the first time, but who had no history of cannabis-induced psychosis. RESULTS: Schizophrenia-spectrum disorders were diagnosed in 44.5% of the sample. New psychotic episodes of any type were diagnosed in 77.2%. Male gender and young age were associated with increased risk. Development of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders was often delayed, and 47.1% of patients received a diagnosis more than a year after seeking treatment for a cannabis-induced psychosis. The patients developed schizophrenia at an earlier age than people in the comparison group (males, 24.6 v. 30.7 years, females, 28.9 v. 33.1 years). CONCLUSIONS: Cannabis-induced psychotic disorders are of great clinical and prognostic importance.


So they are trying to get a corolation between people who already had treatment for Schizophrenia and smoke and people who had treatment for Schizophrenia?

I may not be reading that right, I'm pretty tired.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: Krazefinn
Armitage, I was going to ask you 'bout the x. Got the kids for the weekend?
best wishes to you and your family, stay strong.

Well, I posted a followup after the appt with the counselor. The counselor didn't think she was a risk to the kids at this time, so I don't have a leg to stand on with regard to all the responses telling me to get the kids out. She did confirm that it was a psychotic episode though. I checked on the kids this a.m. I have them tonight, but not the weekend - though I've canceled my ski trip and other plans so I can keep a closer eye on things.

 

[wkabel23]

Originally posted by: Crono

Originally posted by: wkabel23

Originally posted by: Crono

Originally posted by: wkabel23
responsible drug use is possible (and it won't ruin your life!)

You're joking, right? Maybe it's possible for a drug like marijuana to not completely ruin your life, but there is no such thing as "responsible drug use" for the heavier stuff (I'm assuming you mean illicit drugs).

what do you consider to be heavier stuff?

Cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, meth, etc.

I would agree. I was mostly referring to alcohol (yep, it's a drug), marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, LSD, etc.

I would say that you can use cocaine responsibly, at least in the sense that it won't ruin your everyday life or cause a mental illness. Of course, cocaine use does damage your heart so I'm never going to touch it. Ecstasy...if you get good ecstasy from a reliable source and don't abuse it, then I think you can use it responsibly without it messing up your life, but again it's something I won't touch.

Responsible drug use means not abusing the drug.

 

[Atheus]

connection != causality

In reply to the "responsible drug use" with "heavier stuff", it is most definately possible, I know from experience. People do not recognise that many of the drugs prescribed by doctors are illegal drugs by another name. If you go into hospital and have morphine for pain you are getting heroin, it's the same thing, and it doesn't ruin the lives of the people given it. Similarly many children are prescribed amphetamines for ADD - that's the same amphetamine as in methamphetamine or 'meth'. I believe that the correlation between mental illness and drug use is primarily due the fact that mentally unstable individuals are more likely to abuse drugs, not the other way round. This abuse will likely worsen their illness, but if a normal person uses a drug reponsibly, they will not suddenly become mentally ill.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

how about, crazy people smoke a lot of dope?

 

[Giscardo]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
This is totally false!!!

Isn't that right? Yes,Yes

My other two personalities agree with me🙂

Yeah... too bad schizophrenia has nothing to do with multiple personality disorder. But nice try!

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: Crono

Originally posted by: wkabel23
responsible drug use is possible (and it won't ruin your life!)

You're joking, right? Maybe it's possible for a drug like marijuana to not completely ruin your life, but there is no such thing as "responsible drug use" for the heavier stuff (I'm assuming you mean illicit drugs).

Sure there is. You just don't hear about it much because responsible drug users are not stupid. They realize what they do is illegal, so they aren't exactly going to talk about it often. Coke, meth, pills, etc don't have the acceptance of marijuana, but I can assure you they have do have responsible consumers out there. You'll meet some everyday, but you'll never know they are one.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: Crono

Originally posted by: wkabel23
responsible drug use is possible (and it won't ruin your life!)

You're joking, right? Maybe it's possible for a drug like marijuana to not completely ruin your life, but there is no such thing as "responsible drug use" for the heavier stuff (I'm assuming you mean illicit drugs).

Sure there is. You just don't here about it much because responsible drug users are not stupid. They realize what they do is illegal, so they aren't exactly going to talk about it often. Coke, meth, pills, etc don't have the acceptance of marijuana, but I can assure you they have do have responsible consumers out there. You'll meet some everyday, but you'll never know they are one.

Yea, but it's kind of a crap shoot now isn't it? Like playing russian roullete - but you don't know how many bullets are in the gun. Because addiction is a chemical/physical phenomena, and everybody has different addiction thresholds. And you develop tolerance to the drug so you have to keep taking more. And you never know quite how strong a particular batch is until you try it.

Sounds pretty fvcking stupid to me. I've seen enough otherwise "responsible" people get screwed up on drugs.

 

[Accipiter22]

and no, a lot of researchers are in a huirry to have their name's published. I coudl've my junior year of college if i wanted to. Just because it's a published peer-reviewed study doesn't mean it's proof. I hate garbage like that original study in the OP

 

[Slacker]

Originally posted by: Ktulu

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Crono
Interesting. I guess that's just one more reason not to smoke weed.

I've heard it makes you go blind too...oh wait, that's masturbation. 😛

Wonderful, i'm gonna go blind and crazy when i get older.

and you will be a stoned blind crazy bastard wanking away in a corner somewhere :thumbsup:

 

[IGBT]

..one of many studies that came to the same conclusion. Not the harmless dope we thought it was 20 years ago.

 

[PHiuR]

marijuana is a powerful drug...and this can defintely happen.
I get very self conscious when i smoke, maybe it's early signs of schizo?