The use of cannabis (also known marijuana, ganja among other names) by the youth is almost fashionable.
It seems to be a cultural way of maturation but without the consideration of the consequences. Someone told me that its use is so common that those who do not smoke it are seen as the odd one out in most colleges. My main concern is the effect it has on the mental health of these young people. This issue became of importance to me when two young people close two me ended up having mental issue in their late teens. Both were users of marijuana before the mental break up. I decided to do some investigation to find out whether there was any research on this issue. My investigation did confirm that there is indeed research confirming my suspicion.
The use of street drugs, including LSD, methamphetamine, cannabis and alcohol has been linked with significantly increased probability of developing schizophrenia. This link has been documented in over 30 different scientific studies done mostly in the United Kingdom, Australia and Sweden over the past 20 years. One study interviewed 50,000 members of the Swedish Army about their drug consumption and followed up with them later in life. The study established that those who were heavy consumers of cannabis at age 18 were over 60% more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia over the next 15 years than those who did not take it. Experts now estimate that between 8% and 13 % of all schizophrenia cases are linked to cannabis use during teen years.
Many of these research studies indicate that the risk is higher when the drugs are used by people under the age of 21 years, a time when the human brain is developing rapidly and is particularly vulnerable. This risk is highest on people with a biological disposition towards schizophrenia. Researchers in New Zealand found that those who used cannabis by the age of 15 were more than three times more likely to develop mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. Other similar research has backed these findings showing that cannabis use increases the risk of psychosis by up to 70% for heavy users, and that the risk increases in proportion to the amount of cannabis used. The younger a person smokes or uses cannabis, the higher the risk for schizophrenia, and the worse the schizophrenia is when the person does develop it.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/185921_marijuana-whats-next#ixzz0ww18X51J
The use of street drugs, including LSD, methamphetamine, cannabis and alcohol has been linked with significantly increased probability of developing schizophrenia. This link has been documented in over 30 different scientific studies done mostly in the United Kingdom, Australia and Sweden over the past 20 years. One study interviewed 50,000 members of the Swedish Army about their drug consumption and followed up with them later in life. The study established that those who were heavy consumers of cannabis at age 18 were over 60% more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia over the next 15 years than those who did not take it. Experts now estimate that between 8% and 13 % of all schizophrenia cases are linked to cannabis use during teen years.
Many of these research studies indicate that the risk is higher when the drugs are used by people under the age of 21 years, a time when the human brain is developing rapidly and is particularly vulnerable. This risk is highest on people with a biological disposition towards schizophrenia. Researchers in New Zealand found that those who used cannabis by the age of 15 were more than three times more likely to develop mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. Other similar research has backed these findings showing that cannabis use increases the risk of psychosis by up to 70% for heavy users, and that the risk increases in proportion to the amount of cannabis used. The younger a person smokes or uses cannabis, the higher the risk for schizophrenia, and the worse the schizophrenia is when the person does develop it.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/185921_marijuana-whats-next#ixzz0ww18X51J
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