Cannabis Addiction?

Question

The Independent on Sunday has opted out of its 1997 decriminalize cannabis support campaign on account of new findings on “super strength skunk” that show a correlation between cannabis use and psychosis and schizophrenia. The IoS denounces that today’s availability and strength of the new drug variety is proportionately higher than 10 or 20 years ago. Assuming that cannabis is a causal factor for schizophrenia, Hickman and colleagues argue (Journal Addiction) that there will be an increase in the number of this mental illness if we let prevalence and incidence of cannabis use increase over time.

From a sociological point of view, if we take into account the flow and stock data Hickman’s thought experiment is based on, this increase of schizophrenia in the population groups is the most likely outcome, but here we should not forget the model is also based on assumptions. So far, the medical statement has not been faced yet with a situation where cannabis has been the cause of permanent brain damage or incurable schizophrenia, so it is rather difficult to say whether an increase in prevalence and incidence to new super strength skunk will necessarily mean an increase of incurable mental health problems.

Regarding the study of human flows or social sciences in general it is rather difficult to point out causal links. Association between variables does not necessarily mean some of them must be the cause or have a knock-on effect upon the rest. Other difficulty to pinpoint casual links shows its ugly face when not all the relevant variables are included in the sociological model. There seems to be a correlation between cannabis and the surge of violent crime but so far we have not a relevant study yet on cannabis resin use, as a likely variable operating on its own, and the incidence of violent crime.

Cambridge University Professor Peter Jones’ chart on cannabis use is withdrawal symptoms is rather surprising since an explanatory reduction to chemical compounds and the activity of the brain has not been possible yet in this sense. Even if we concede Professor Jones the occurrence of these variables, the account is still problematic as it cannot include those cases where withdrawal from this substance did not show withdrawal symptoms at all. In the Lancet report, cannabis appears as the third less addictive substance, only surpassed by steroids and LSD (1st and 2nd less addictive substances respectively).

Due to the chemical properties of THC, one of cannabis’ main active ingredients, since it remains in the body after a month of its ingestion, UN representative Antonio Maria Costa’s claim that users should be treated as those arrested for driving under the influence might seem to have some support. If not as dangerous as alcohol is, driving after its use is still just as problematic as driving while speaking on the phone. The medical establishment is aware of cases where studying or other tasks that require concentration have been achieved under the influence of cannabis resin, but there’s also an increment in the amount of time needed to fulfill those tasks as distraction and other factors are very likely to lead users away from it every now and again. This does not necessarily mean “distraction”, as a consequence of cannabis use, is a permanent damage difficult to avoid once it settles in since withdrawal from it always improves concentration levels, but it does underline the fact that laziness and apathy are always important factors that break in when users recur to it.

Even though THC lacks a nitrogen atom in its molecule it can be safely included in those psychotropic compounds’ list that build up upon benzene or indolic rings if we take on board the effect upon the body. The schizoid episodes to be found in cannabis users are of a lesser importance and intensity than those commonly associated with substances such as LSD but this can be explained just recurring to the way this substance breaks in into the body. An ingestion of cannabis resin, instead of its usual use in water pipes or rollups, would put users certainly closer to those psychotic episodes so characteristic, for instance, in indolic compounds. However, any psychiatrist or psychologist worth its salt knows how easy it is to get rid of these symptoms with proper psychological help in case there were not a latent physiological predisposition to develop schizophrenia or psychosis prior to cannabis use. And once the problem has been sorted, it is very unlikely users will go back to previous stages or positions.

Here it seems sensible to underline the importance of proper technical vocabulary to better give account for these social phenomena. There is of course a margin in everything to defend ones’ personal preferences or inclinations, but the data we draw our conclusions from must be accurate. The IoS states that super strength variety skunk is 10 times stronger than cannabis resin (25 for The Daily Mail, 19th March 2007), but this datum is not accurate at all. Cannabis resin is far stronger than cannabis itself since “resin” is one of cannabis’ by products. Even the oily stuff of regular plants will still yield the highest concentrations of THC as plant and resin work out on a ratio of 100kgms/1grm. Super strength skunk can only be stronger than cannabis resin if the latter means “adulterated resin”, which is still available today. The new variety of the plant’s higher concentration levels can be seen here as the user’s ultimate attempt to avoid cheat and provide with a better product for himself in a world dominated by gangs and criminal mafias. Super strength skunk seems to sell well because there is a social demand for it.

Correlations between higher concentrations of THC and addiction, even if these variables seem to go hand in hand, should not lead us to think there is a casual link between them. “Cannabis addiction” is a sociological term and it should not be used in medical explanations if its use beguiles readers into thinking there are physical and physiological factors that can give account for addiction itself in this sense. It is obvious social activities such as biting your fingers or gamming on line can be treated as addictions as well-and surely there are endogenous chemical compounds and molecules that must be involved in them (perhaps as a source of dopamine or other endorphins)-but all of these cases always present readers with weak individuals and soft characters, which exemplify extremes that cannot be helped or prevented with proper medical care.

Answer 1

The problem with this kind of study is that it doesn't go the whole way. It is probably true - cannabis can cause schizophrenia, along with a whole host of other mental illnesses. And real addiction to weed will damage all your opportunities such as your job, your studies, your family relationships.

But switch it the other way round. People with mental illness are more likely to smoke or reach for the bong anyway. Many people are aware of their situation, and their powerlessness in it, and would prefer to get high and forget about it. Wouldn't you?

A few tokes of a splee won't turn you into a raving lunatic or divide your personality like a pizza. Recreational drug use isn't a sure fire way to madness, depression and neurosis; it is, however, a remarkably effective way of dealing with it. Stuff like maijuana, cocaine, alcohol, etc. is a comfort to the sufferer. It will change your personality, often for the worse in the case of abuse, and therein the downward spiral begins.

There are (shock horror!) benefits to smoking weed. I'm off the stuff myself, but I still get cravings when I'm stressed. I know all sorts of people that smoke weed, in fact I'd be harder pressed to find someone of my generation that didn't. They're not exactly running businesses and flying around in convertables, but you got to admit, my generation hasn't exactly been handed the path to opportunity on a plate. Look at the situation we have today.

If we screw up in school, for whatever reason, we're screwed. We screw up our job, we're screwed. And that's it. There's no second chance. After 19 we have to pay sky high college fees to get our GCSEs back. Or if we want to go to Uni we have to borrow a mortgage just to get the education we need to be financially successful. if we don't want to borrow, we're screwed. If we don't want to play poker with the future, we're screwed. The apprenticeship system in my county and all the counties around it - it's not lucrative. If there's no money in us, then we're considered dossers and dropouts. You want a self fulfilling prophecy, you've got one there. And the number of kids my age who have no future except for JSA meetings or McJobs is incredible. We have no rich parents to bail us out. Does that make it any easier to resist the spliff that's being passed around? Or to not open up a can and think, hell with it?

You want to know something about drugs? Ever thought about why doling out meds is all the rage? Because they get pushed on us, that's why. Christ, the number of kids on citalopram, fluoxetine, risperadone, all because they went to the doctor and said they were feeling down and couldn't cope with stuff? How is stuffing you with drugs going to help? Is the medical community going to think about that??? It's all around me. That's because there's money in it. Big pharmaceutical companies want their buck. So how is that proper medical care. You might even have a real mental illness, lurking away in the corners of your mind. But the sad reality is that the medical establishment just doesn't care, and that weed helps smooth that fact over. Recreational drugs are cheap, easy to obtain, and not overly harmful to the human body or brain.

So don't look at it and think weed causes schizophrenia. Think about it the other way round. That goes for you, doctor.

Answer 2

i do not believe that pot can cause schizophrenia. i believe that it can cause, mild schizophrenic symptoms. i have a lot of friends that smoke pot, some very heavy, and none of them have turned schizophrenic. my belief is that a pot smoker who develop es symptoms of schizophrenia, once they withdraw from the pot the symptoms can go away. with schizophrenia the symptoms never go away, unless the person is medicated. i think pot can cause some mild anxiety, and mild paranoia however. i worked in a large mental hospital for 30 years, and have never seen a person admitted because they smoked pot. i am not an advocate for pot. but i feel it is a waste of time, and taxpayers money,and bogs down the court system. because it cost millions to prosecute simple drug possessions, and that money should be better spent on real problems and health issues. i think that might answer your question. just an informed opinion.

Answer 3

I hope you had to do this for a project, but my attitude is that somethings are bad for your others are good, if we all listen and read about what is good and bad, we wouldn't live, I am against any drug taking, that's illegal drugs, this includes cannabis, I feel we are all being totally confused about what is good and what is bad for us by the so called experts.

One day they say something is good for you, the next day the same thing is bad for you, I say have most things, (except drugs) in moderation, then hopefully we will just about manage to get through our lives with out too much hassle.

Answer 4

the problem with reports is there is never any actual proof. its full of variables which by their very nature alter the results. as an ex cannabis addict, (i smoked half ounce every couple of days, cost me a fortune!lol) i have to say that i believe the only link between cannabis and mental illness is possible only if it was an underlying factor before cannabis use was undertaken. i dont believe it causes it for a minute.

Answer 5

Weed isn't physically addicting but listen to Cypress Hill - Hits from the Bong, Bone Thugs - Weed Song

Answer 6

Sorry I agree. Fact it is addictive. Fact it increases the risk of depression and schizophrenia. fact chronically it produced brain atrophy and accelerates dementia. Most people should make up their minds based on that data.

Answer 7

Yes so you have just cut and pasted the findings regarding skunk in the Independant on Sunday.

And you question is????????

Answer 8

i wanted to read all that, i really did but it was too waffly, sorry. Can u give us the abbreviated version pls? I am genuinely interested.

Answer 9

Pass the peace pipe, man.

Answer 10

Damn! be right back!! let me go smoke some good skunk and come back and try to read this again, ight!!!!