Cannabis and Mental Health

[Abigail]

Here is a short article about cannabis and its undesirable effects on those suffering from mental heath problems, in particular schizophrenia

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4217609.stm

[Zeluvia]

I think Alcohol has the same problem, it exacerbates existing mental health issues.

[Dee Dee Warren]

I think Alcohol has the same problem, it exacerbates existing mental health issues.

Interesting.... is that always true? I ask because a lot of alcoholics turn out to be depressed people who are trying to self-medicate.

[Sacrificial Ram]

Interesting.... is that always true? I ask because a lot of alcoholics turn out to be depressed people who are trying to self-medicate.
From observing a couple of alcoholic friends, the alcohol is used as an escape mechanism, and often causes the problems to be worse, rather than allow them to be dealt with. One person I know was not able to deal with her emotional problems until AFTER she stopped drinking.

I don't view it so much as 'self medicate' as a way to avoid, and can be very destructive.

[mossrose]

Interesting.... is that always true? I ask because a lot of alcoholics turn out to be depressed people who are trying to self-medicate.
I know it was true for my brother. He was a depressed person whose consumption of alcohol only served to depress him further.


And as for the cannabis........sheesh........the government is trying to legalize "medicinal" marijuana here.....

:doh:

[Dee Dee Warren]

I had a family member who was a "functional" alcoholic, but drank and drank and drank. This person was very depressive and "self-medicated" using alchohol - not an occasional or weekend drink, I mean all day long drinking of hard liquor (not beer or wine). I am certianly not advocating becoming an alcoholic and such was destructive to the family, but it was definitely to medicate from obvious depression. And in a lot of ways it did but of course brought on a whole new set of problems. This alcoholism was very hard on me and I even went to those family members of alchoholics meetings for a while to better understand.

I went into a rage once when this family member picked me up from work drunk. I felt like my life was being purposefully put into danger. I never really got over that.

[mossrose]

What makes it worse is that when an alcoholic tries to get off the stuff, the depression only deepens.

It is a vicious cycle......depression, drink, more depression, try not to drink, more depression......

And it killed my brother.

[Teallaura]

What makes it worse is that when an alcoholic tries to get off the stuff, the depression only deepens.

It is a vicious cycle......depression, drink, more depression, try not to drink, more depression......

And it killed my brother.
I'm so sorry about your brother..... I lost my favorite uncle to it, too, when I was young.

[mossrose]

I'm so sorry about your brother..... I lost my favorite uncle to it, too, when I was young.
Thanks, Teallaura.....:hug:

Alcoholism is a terrible thing.

[Zeluvia]

Alcohol has an agressive side-component for certain people. Some are happy drunks, some are mean, some people can control their drinking and stay functional, some can't.
Since it affects people differently, I would say existing brain chemistry plays alot in people's reactions to it, just like any drug, it could make things worse or better.

I am old, and most people I knew that smoked marijuana eventually outgrew it, with very few ill effects.

Alcohol on the other hand seems to stick with you for a lifetime. If you are one of the ones that have a propensity to that addiction, its a lifetime commitment not to drink.
People I know that quit smoking pot in their late 20's are still fighting their alcohol addiction in their 40's.

Hopefully new research into brain chemical reactions can help clear up some of this.

[potato sundae]

What really is the big deal with marijauna?

[spiritmech]

The weird thing about alcohol (I remember from my neuroscience class in college) is that it's both an upper and a downer. I mean, there are opiates (downer) and something related to dopamine or something that acts as an upper. It's very pernicious and hard to shake if it's got you.

SM

[Sacrificial Ram]

What makes it worse is that when an alcoholic tries to get off the stuff, the depression only deepens.

It is a vicious cycle......depression, drink, more depression, try not to drink, more depression......

And it killed my brother.
I am sorry to hear that. To have to watch that is almost as bad as having to live it.

[Alberta girl]

What really is the big deal with marijauna?
I think the big deal is that the effects of pot masquerade as a spiritual experience. When I quit drinking, I stayed on the marijauna maintenance program for awhile, that's where you substitute one drug for another, thinking its O.K. The problem was that by being high, I put a barrier to any spiritual growth, and therefor no meaningful sobriety was developing. Even for people who are not addicts or alcoholics, I just can't believe one can enjoy a sincere relationship with Christ and also do drugs.It would be like commiting adultery. However, that is between the person and God, since spiritual maturity is a process.

[keith]

People often talk about cannabis as a 'gateway' drug to other harder drugs. Having worked with people with serious narcotics problems I would observe that hard liquor is just as much a gateway drug as pot. Possibly more so.

Having counseled with people who smoke pot it seems to act like a coccoon, cotton wool around the emotions if you like. That might be part of the attraction of course but it does not enable a person to 'feel the feelings' and work through stuff. Cannabis may act in much more subtle ways on the mind and personality than alcohol but I would agree with the earlier comment that it gets in the way of spiritual and personal growth. Heavy pot smokers do also seem to experience some distress - such as loss of sleep pattern and feelings of panic- if they suddenly stop so there is obviously some impact on the mind. These reports are reminiscent of anti-depressants (not that this is such a great thing since they too raise some mental health issues if over -used).

[Teallaura]

What really is the big deal with marijauna?I can't speak to the psychological effects but I can tell you a huge number of the STD patients I see are on some form of drug - the vast majority admits to alcohol or marijuana. I agree with Keith, one is likely as much a 'gateway' as the other. That said, I have no problem with the laws prohibiting it - one legal route is enough (too much, really).

Getting high makes you stupid - things you'd never do sober become possibilities when high. Hence, I get to talk to a lot of people who might have avoided that trip to the STD clinic if they'd had enough sense to A) not sleep with the other person in the first place or B) use a condom. GC and Chlamydia are usually stopped by condoms - and are the most prevalent reportable diseases out there. Getting high isn't the only reason people don't use condoms - but it is one of the big ones.

In HIV prevention, we're beginning to look very seriously at all substance abuse - not just IDU. Marijuana use can't expose you to HIV - but it can make you stupid enough to get yourself exposed. It's a very real problem - I've talked to enough HIV + people to know.

[Zeluvia]

Ha I think that is why most people outgrow it....it makes you stupid = )

I don't think it is possible to be a functioning pot smoker...like it is to be a functioning alcoholic. I think this is why most just leave it behind.

[Sacrificial Ram]

Ha I think that is why most people outgrow it....it makes you stupid = )

I don't think it is possible to be a functioning pot smoker...like it is to be a functioning alcoholic. I think this is why most just leave it behind.
I know several exceptions on people who are functional pot smokers. They are the exception rather than the rule.


The pot smokers I know that are not functional tend to abuse other drugs too.

[Alien]

I know several exceptions on people who are functional pot smokers. They are the exception rather than the rule.


The pot smokers I know that are not functional tend to abuse other drugs too.

I think the arguments for and against both alcohol and marijuana tend to ignore the large number of people that manage to use the "drug" in moderation and get a great deal of pleasure from it. In other words, when deciding whether to ban something let's not forget those who are not harmed significantly and will lose access to something that they enjoy.

I fall into that category as far as alcohol is concerned ... I drink in moderation, enjoy it, and have no addiction that I can detect. I have smoked pot (a lot less than I ever drank alcohol), quite enjoyed it, and no longer do so because the negative results of getting caught far outweigh any pleasure I might gain. Sad really, I'm being punished because ... well I'm not really sure why ... but I guess because some people think pot is harmful and have decided to make themselves consciences for others.

I suspect that if pot were to be legalised we would see something like the pattern we see with alcohol. Many would decide not to use it for one reason or another. The vast majority of those that chose to use it would do so with little negative effect. A small percentage would get into trouble of one sort or another, but they would be treated as alcoholics are - people in need of medical treatment rather than criminals.

A huge side benefit would be that once pot was legal the price would come down dramatically ... and criminals would immediately lose all interest in dealing it (remember Prohibition?)

[BeHereNow]

There is so much false information floating through this thread. If you all would stop going by what you've heard and do some research, you'll see the harms of marijuana are:

1) Respiratory deterioration, as you would expect from smoke. Also, the tar content is high compared to tobacco cigarettes.
2) In cases of mental dependence, side effects such as dissociation or numbness, which could lead to depression. This is a rare side effect, and I've never known anyone that suffered from it. Now, with ecstacy, I've seen definite behavioral changes in friends, but never with weed.

I've smoked almost daily for about 7 years now. I graduated college, I have a job, I support myself, I don't steal, I don't hurt people, I'm mentally healthy. The following claims are propaganda from the US government:

1) Marijuana is a gateway drug. This has been disproven as far back as the Nixon administration, when he called for a medical study to be done and didn't like their results. This theory is absolute bunk.
2) You can't be a functional marijuana smoker.
3) You can't smoke marijuana and be a successful college student (I heard that one on a radio ad when I was in college and almost laughed).

Something important to consider in these types of tests is interpretation of data. When you're talking about people with mental illness using drugs, a causal relationship would be difficult to establish. A cursory knowledge of mental illnesses will inform you that people with mental illnesses often seek outlets, highs, escapes from reality.

Also note the ambiguous interplay between "cannabis" and "drugs" in the OP article, and the term "high", which could mean crack, coke, anything, coming from clinic statistics.

I wanted to comment on the spiritual aspect. While it may inhibit some people, which is fine, other people's spiritual practise is enhanced by marijuana usage. For example, Rastas incorporate it as part of their religion. Religions all throughout human history have used substances, usually hallucinagenics, in their rites.

There hasn't been a single compelling argument set forth for why legalized marijuana would harm society. That says a lot.

[Rubia Warren]

I know several exceptions on people who are functional pot smokers. They are the exception rather than the rule.


The pot smokers I know that are not functional tend to abuse other drugs too.

You should come visit me for a week. I could take you on a tour of my area.
Anybody around here recently bought a speedboat? It was most likely made in my area by a bunch of chronic dopesmokers.
Anybody recently bought an RV..... or a mobile home...... a bus..... an ambulance.... a cargo trailer.... yeah, this is the capital of the country for the manufacture of these items. Made in the USA...... by a factory full of potheads. Smokin' like chimneys even at work...... rollin' up on every break. Even the bosses. :hehe:

[anthrogirl]

I know several exceptions on people who are functional pot smokers. They are the exception rather than the rule.




Funny--this is the opposite of my experience. Some of the most successful professionals I know are potheads...

ag