Marijuana is considered a «light drug», so many people believe that even long-term and regular use is harmless. However, there are studies that show that mj abuse can adversely affect mental health years later.
Scientists warn of an increased risk of developing severe mental disorders such as psychosis, mania and even paranoid schizophrenia. At the same time, other researchers believe that it is too early to talk about the cause-and-effect relationship, and the brain of avid smokers fully recovers in just a month after quitting. There are others who suggest using pot to treat mental disorders. Let's find out what to watch out for.
How cannabis affects the brain
Marijuana is the most mass drug and the fourth most common way to slightly poison your body (right after alcohol, tobacco and coffee). Its effect on the body is complex: mj active substances do not disrupt its work directly, but indirectly affect many vital processes.
Cannabis resin contains more than 80 active substances (cannabinoids), but the characteristic effect of smoking is caused by a combination of the two main ones, whose effects are opposite.
Scientists warn of an increased risk of developing severe mental disorders such as psychosis, mania and even paranoid schizophrenia. At the same time, other researchers believe that it is too early to talk about the cause-and-effect relationship, and the brain of avid smokers fully recovers in just a month after quitting. There are others who suggest using pot to treat mental disorders. Let's find out what to watch out for.
How cannabis affects the brain
Marijuana is the most mass drug and the fourth most common way to slightly poison your body (right after alcohol, tobacco and coffee). Its effect on the body is complex: mj active substances do not disrupt its work directly, but indirectly affect many vital processes.
Cannabis resin contains more than 80 active substances (cannabinoids), but the characteristic effect of smoking is caused by a combination of the two main ones, whose effects are opposite.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): causes euphoria, revitalization, and pleasurable excitement, and increases anxiety, restlessness, and agitation.
Cannabidiol (CBD): has an inhibitory effect, reduces anxiety, and calms.
The interaction of these two substances explains the excitatory effect of smaller doses (THC is the more active substance) and the subsequent inhibitory effect of larger doses (CBD is larger in volume).
Cannabinoids affect several parts of the brain and body processes simultaneously:
Cannabidiol (CBD): has an inhibitory effect, reduces anxiety, and calms.
The interaction of these two substances explains the excitatory effect of smaller doses (THC is the more active substance) and the subsequent inhibitory effect of larger doses (CBD is larger in volume).
Cannabinoids affect several parts of the brain and body processes simultaneously:
In experiments on mice, the «popcorn effect» was described: under the influence of marijuana, the brisk rodents became quiet and sluggish. But at the same time their nerves were overexcited: they literally jumped on the spot from sounds and touches.
The THC content varies greatly from one variety of the plant to another: from 1% to 20%. In some varieties, the THC content is so high that it can provoke a real psychosis. The average buyer, of course, is usually unaware of the peculiarities of the chemical composition. On average, the joints that were smoked in the hippie era are weaker than those that are sold now. For example, a popular variety called skunk: grown in greenhouses or hydroponics, it affects the brain rapidly and, along with euphoria, can cause nervousness, panic attacks and vomiting.
Is there an addiction to cannabis?
Contrary to popular belief, addiction to cannabis does exist. But the risk of addiction is lower than with hard drugs, tobacco or alcohol. About 9% of cannabis users are addicted to cannabis (alcohol and cocaine users have a higher risk of addiction, 15%). For those who use several times a week, the risk of addiction reaches 30%.
In the United States, marijuana addiction is listed as a mental disorder and more than four million people suffer from it, and in England there are hotlines and support groups for addicts — you can check yourself right now by answering 12 questions about marijuana use.
The addict's condition is described as «amotivational syndrome»: weakened and slowed thinking abilities, decreased interest in the outside world, passivity, lack of ambition and motivation, rapid fatigue, and a frayed mood. But scientists are still debating whether this «vegetable» state is caused by years of abuse, or by the overly relaxed lifestyle itself.
Is there an addiction to cannabis?
Contrary to popular belief, addiction to cannabis does exist. But the risk of addiction is lower than with hard drugs, tobacco or alcohol. About 9% of cannabis users are addicted to cannabis (alcohol and cocaine users have a higher risk of addiction, 15%). For those who use several times a week, the risk of addiction reaches 30%.
In the United States, marijuana addiction is listed as a mental disorder and more than four million people suffer from it, and in England there are hotlines and support groups for addicts — you can check yourself right now by answering 12 questions about marijuana use.
The addict's condition is described as «amotivational syndrome»: weakened and slowed thinking abilities, decreased interest in the outside world, passivity, lack of ambition and motivation, rapid fatigue, and a frayed mood. But scientists are still debating whether this «vegetable» state is caused by years of abuse, or by the overly relaxed lifestyle itself.
An experiment involving students (volunteers smoked 11 joints a day and were paid for it) showed that their learning abilities recovered when the experience ended. So far, no irreversible changes in the brain directly caused by marijuana have been identified. Science says that if you quit, on average, thinking abilities will return to normal in a month. But this is not certain: research is ongoing, and there is already evidence (yet to be clarified) that some users, even after months, are less able to make informed decisions and more prone to risk-taking and impulsivity.
Despite the rumors, withdrawal from marijuana use does exist: a person on withdrawal may lose appetite, experience nausea, sweating, restless sleep with nightmares, and emotional swings.
What negative effects are seen with marijuana use?
The effects of marijuana are very individual and depend not only on the type of herb, but also on the reactions of a particular organism. So it is almost impossible to predict it in advance.
In different studies, from 5 to 20% of MJ users experienced panic attacks, anxiety, depression, obsessive thoughts, loss of energy, and apathy.
A survey in a community of young people with mental health problems showed that almost 15% of participants (out of 120 who responded) admitted that they had experienced negative effects from smoking weed, ranging from irritability to panic attacks.
Despite the rumors, withdrawal from marijuana use does exist: a person on withdrawal may lose appetite, experience nausea, sweating, restless sleep with nightmares, and emotional swings.
What negative effects are seen with marijuana use?
The effects of marijuana are very individual and depend not only on the type of herb, but also on the reactions of a particular organism. So it is almost impossible to predict it in advance.
In different studies, from 5 to 20% of MJ users experienced panic attacks, anxiety, depression, obsessive thoughts, loss of energy, and apathy.
A survey in a community of young people with mental health problems showed that almost 15% of participants (out of 120 who responded) admitted that they had experienced negative effects from smoking weed, ranging from irritability to panic attacks.
It also showed that dud is a really common means of self-medicating the psyche among teenagers and young adults: 50 out of 120 (that is, almost one in two), admitted to having had experience of using.
These phenomena are unpleasant but temporary. Nevertheless, cannabis can provoke mental disorders that can stay with us for the rest of our lives. The «big psychiatric» illnesses are considered incurable: a person can be in remission for many years, but at any moment he or she may have another attack.
Can cannabis trigger psychosis?
The best studied psychoses are those that arise from the use of cannabis in various forms. A large dose of cannabis (or a small dose with a high THC content) can cause acute psychosis — a mental disorder in which a person loses touch with reality and the ability to behave appropriately, he or she may see hallucinations, hear voices and express delusions.
In medicine there is a special term «hashish psychosis» (Cannabis induced psychosis). It is accompanied by attacks of fear (they are caused by horrible hallucinations) and aggression (the person tries to defend himself against them).
Even a twilight disorder of consciousness may occur, in which the patient runs wherever he goes, not reacting to others, and hours later does not remember at all what happened to him. The risk of having such an experience, according to various studies — from 1.5% to 5%, and it is higher the higher the dose you took. Usually after a few hours, the patient fully recovers. But there can be long-lasting effects.
These phenomena are unpleasant but temporary. Nevertheless, cannabis can provoke mental disorders that can stay with us for the rest of our lives. The «big psychiatric» illnesses are considered incurable: a person can be in remission for many years, but at any moment he or she may have another attack.
Can cannabis trigger psychosis?
The best studied psychoses are those that arise from the use of cannabis in various forms. A large dose of cannabis (or a small dose with a high THC content) can cause acute psychosis — a mental disorder in which a person loses touch with reality and the ability to behave appropriately, he or she may see hallucinations, hear voices and express delusions.
In medicine there is a special term «hashish psychosis» (Cannabis induced psychosis). It is accompanied by attacks of fear (they are caused by horrible hallucinations) and aggression (the person tries to defend himself against them).
Even a twilight disorder of consciousness may occur, in which the patient runs wherever he goes, not reacting to others, and hours later does not remember at all what happened to him. The risk of having such an experience, according to various studies — from 1.5% to 5%, and it is higher the higher the dose you took. Usually after a few hours, the patient fully recovers. But there can be long-lasting effects.
Is there a link between cannabis use and schizophrenia?
Hundreds of studies involving tens of thousands of people have been devoted to the relationship between marijuana abuse and schizophrenia, and most have concluded that there is such a link, and a pretty strong one.
One of the largest studies was conducted in Finland: over a period of 15 years, doctors examined 18,000 patients with acute psychosis caused by drugs or alcohol, which over time developed from isolated psychotic episodes into schizophrenia.
46% of patients whose psychosis was induced by cannabis developed some form of schizophrenia within 8 years. This is much more common than patients who abused alcohol or amphetamines.
In most cases, the illness manifested itself in the first three years after the first hospitalization.
Similar conclusions were reached by Danish researchers led by Mikkel Arendt (published in the British Journal of Psychiatry). Of their patients with hashish psychosis, almost a third of them eventually became ill with one of the most severe forms of schizophrenia - paranoid. In this disease, the level of intelligence is preserved, but consciousness is completely taken over by hallucinations and delusions.
Cannabis-dependent adolescents and adolescents with schizophrenia have been found to have similar brain characteristics: hyperactivity of the visual and auditory centers. It is this feature that is associated with symptoms of anxious listening to non-existent sounds (e.g. voices in the head), frightening intrusive images, and hallucinations.
Hundreds of studies involving tens of thousands of people have been devoted to the relationship between marijuana abuse and schizophrenia, and most have concluded that there is such a link, and a pretty strong one.
One of the largest studies was conducted in Finland: over a period of 15 years, doctors examined 18,000 patients with acute psychosis caused by drugs or alcohol, which over time developed from isolated psychotic episodes into schizophrenia.
46% of patients whose psychosis was induced by cannabis developed some form of schizophrenia within 8 years. This is much more common than patients who abused alcohol or amphetamines.
In most cases, the illness manifested itself in the first three years after the first hospitalization.
Similar conclusions were reached by Danish researchers led by Mikkel Arendt (published in the British Journal of Psychiatry). Of their patients with hashish psychosis, almost a third of them eventually became ill with one of the most severe forms of schizophrenia - paranoid. In this disease, the level of intelligence is preserved, but consciousness is completely taken over by hallucinations and delusions.
Cannabis-dependent adolescents and adolescents with schizophrenia have been found to have similar brain characteristics: hyperactivity of the visual and auditory centers. It is this feature that is associated with symptoms of anxious listening to non-existent sounds (e.g. voices in the head), frightening intrusive images, and hallucinations.
But correlation doesn't mean causation: just because cannabis increases the risk of schizophrenia doesn't mean it causes the disease.
Psychosis - and even more so schizophrenia - is observed in only a relatively small proportion of active marijuana users, so the scientists drew a cautious conclusion: cannabis abuse provokes accelerated development of the disease and stronger and more frequent attacks, provided there is an initial predisposition: cannabis users show symptoms of schizophrenia earlier by an average of 2.7 years.
Schizophrenia itself develops quite slowly. Changes in the psyche can occur for 10-15 years before the first psychotic episode occurs. A drug substance can act as a trigger that starts the active phase of the illness.
Read more here
Psychosis - and even more so schizophrenia - is observed in only a relatively small proportion of active marijuana users, so the scientists drew a cautious conclusion: cannabis abuse provokes accelerated development of the disease and stronger and more frequent attacks, provided there is an initial predisposition: cannabis users show symptoms of schizophrenia earlier by an average of 2.7 years.
Schizophrenia itself develops quite slowly. Changes in the psyche can occur for 10-15 years before the first psychotic episode occurs. A drug substance can act as a trigger that starts the active phase of the illness.
Read more here
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