Marijuana Significantly Increases a Person's Risk for Schizophrenia

[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.

 

[BrokenVisage]

I disagree!

 

[FoBoT]

no way man, it is medicine

 

[Crono]

Interesting. I guess that's just one more reason not to smoke weed.

 

[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. 😛

 

[josh0099]

I would say this study is pretty stupid not that I am avid user of marijuana...but look who are the people that would use it that early in life. It will usually be people that have troubles dealing with themselves and looking for a way out of it.

 

[Smackem]

yea, weed's #1 sideeffect according to the doctor that RX's it most in the world is psychosis. The deal is, some people find it difficult to deal with life high 100% of the time. You are slower than other ppl etc. Also, pot kinda makes ya anxious

 

[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.

 

[MixMasterTang]

Maybe people that are likely to already have early signs of schizophrenia are 600% more likely to smoke marijuana than people without early signs of schizophrenia.

 

[ElFenix]

i wonder if it makes you attracted to cat pee as well?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

This is totally false!!!

Isn't that right? Yes,Yes

My other two personalities agree with me🙂

 

[DurocShark]

Umm... DUH!

 

[Krazefinn]

Originally posted by: MixMasterTang
Maybe people that are likely to already have early signs of schizophrenia are 600% more likely to smoke marijuana than people without early signs of schizophrenia.

Self-medicating is very common...molecularily, tetrahydrocannabinoids as extremely powerful hallucinogens. Ever eat WAY too brownies baked with an oz,ofheshheesh?

 

[Chryso]

I dunno about this. What is the % of usage of marijuana by the general population?
I would guess it to be about the same.

 

[JDrake]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
no way man, it is medicine

:thumbsup: Medicine can't make you sick.

 

[wkabel23]

Marijuana significantly increases a person's (who is already prone to mental illness) risk for Schizophrenia*

 

[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.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: MixMasterTang
Maybe people that are likely to already have early signs of schizophrenia are 600% more likely to smoke marijuana than people without early signs of schizophrenia.

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn3098

Patton's team followed over 1600 Australian school pupils aged 14 to 15 for seven years. Daily cannabis use was associated with a five-fold increased risk of depression at the age of 20. Weekly use was linked to a two-fold increase. The regular users were no more likely to have suffered from depression or anxiety at the start of the study.

The new analysis revealed a dose-dependant relationship between the frequency of cannabis use and schizophrenia. This held true in men with no psychotic symptoms before they started using cannabis, suggesting they were not self-medicating.

 

[dawnbug]

Originally posted by: MixMasterTang
Maybe people that are likely to already have early signs of schizophrenia are 600% more likely to smoke marijuana than people without early signs of schizophrenia.

I was thinking along the same lines. Correlation /= causation. Maybe there's some other connection.

 

[Titan]

One simple question. Was this study independently verified? As in did another, unassociated lab conduct it as well?

If not, it is worth questioning the motives of the single lab.

 

[dawnbug]

Originally posted by: Armitage

Originally posted by: MixMasterTang
Maybe people that are likely to already have early signs of schizophrenia are 600% more likely to smoke marijuana than people without early signs of schizophrenia.

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn3098

Patton's team followed over 1600 Australian school pupils aged 14 to 15 for seven years. Daily cannabis use was associated with a five-fold increased risk of depression at the age of 20. Weekly use was linked to a two-fold increase. The regular users were no more likely to have suffered from depression or anxiety at the start of the study.

The new analysis revealed a dose-dependant relationship between the frequency of cannabis use and schizophrenia. This held true in men with no psychotic symptoms before they started using cannabis, suggesting they were not self-medicating.

Oh wow, maybe there is something more going on there. But still, maybe not. There could be some other link.

 

[Krazefinn]

However, no apparent signs/symptoms of psychosis does not mean they were not latent. 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"

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: Titan
One simple question. Was this study independently verified? As in did another, unassociated lab conduct it as well?

If not, it is worth questioning the motives of the single lab.

Multiple studies have shown this link, according to the site.

 

[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...

 

[wkabel23]

Originally posted by: Armitage

Originally posted by: MixMasterTang
Maybe people that are likely to already have early signs of schizophrenia are 600% more likely to smoke marijuana than people without early signs of schizophrenia.

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn3098

Patton's team followed over 1600 Australian school pupils aged 14 to 15 for seven years. Daily cannabis use was associated with a five-fold increased risk of depression at the age of 20. Weekly use was linked to a two-fold increase. The regular users were no more likely to have suffered from depression or anxiety at the start of the study.

The new analysis revealed a dose-dependant relationship between the frequency of cannabis use and schizophrenia. This held true in men with no psychotic symptoms before they started using cannabis, suggesting they were not self-medicating.

using drugs at that age is a big mistake. daily use at 14 or 15? you're just asking for trouble. where are the parents of these kids?

i'd really like to see a peer reviewed study of the affect of responsible marijauna use on 18-21 year olds with no history of mental illness or factors that would make them more prone to mental illness than another individual.

responsible drug use is possible (and it won't ruin your life!)