"80% of mentally ill use cannabis"

[Earthbound]

80% of mentally ill patients are heavy cannabis users

[link to www.dailymail.co.uk]

 

 

8 out of 10 mentally ill patients are heavy cannabis users

 

By STEVE DOUGHTY, Social Affairs Correspondent Last updated at 22:10pm on 16th October 2006

 

 

Eight out of ten people who suffer the onset of serious mental illness are heavy cannabis users, claims a scathing report on the effects of the drug. The report found that the huge majority of those undergoing a first episode of psychiatric disorder, schizophrenia or similar mental breakdowns are habitual users of the drug. The overwhelming evidence of a connection between cannabis and schizophrenia was confirmed in a report delivered to Tory chiefs as part of leader David Cameron's review of party policies. It listed no fewer than 400 different scientific studies that point to links between use of cannabis, illness and destructive behaviour. The findings will pile pressure on Mr Cameron to tie his party to a pledge to reclassify cannabis as a seriously dangerous drug. The report was prepared for the Tories' social justice policy review in the wake of growing criticism of the Government's decision to downgrade the criminal seriousness of cannabis from Class B to Class C in 2004. This means that police officers no longer regularly arrest adults found with the drug, and critics say it has encouraged young people to believe that cannabis is no longer officially regarded as dangerous. But the new study said that the risks 'demand that cannabis now receives the level of health attention that has been devoted to Britain's other two most favourite drugs, tobacco and alcohol.' Among authorities cited by the report is Professor Peter Jones of Cambridge University, who found that 80 per cent of first episode pyschiatric disorders occurred in those who were heavy users of cannabis. It quoted Professor Jones: 'Cannabis is a huge issue for psychiatric services at the moment. I work in a first-contact schizophrenia service and it might as well be a cannabis dependency unit.' Professor Jones estimated that children who start smoking cannabis at the ages of 10 or 11 may have treble the risk of developing schizophrenia of other children. He added: 'I think this is an iceberg effect. If you were able to measure the toll on GCSE results, A level results, training and social development, we were have a much bigger number of deleterious effects.' Professor Robin Murray of the Institute of Psychiatry told the inquiry: 'Five years ago, 95 per cent of psychiatrists whould have said that cannabis does not cause psychosis. Now, I would estimate that 95 per cent say it does. It is a quiet epidemic.' The report said that 1.75 million people are thought to use cannabis in Britain each month, that more than a quarter of 14- and 15-year-olds have used it, and that it ranks behind only alcohol and tobacco as the country's most popular drug. It listed research which identified links between cannabis and damage to the cardiovascular system; cannabis and damage to the immune system; and smoking cannabis and cancer. The report also explored scientific literature linking cannabis to depression and aggression; to driving risks; to impaired educational performance and ability to reason; and the likelihood that heavy users will become dependent on the drug. It pointed to the 'gateway effect' under which users of the most harmful and addictive drugs like heroin began their illegal drug habits smoking cannabis. Using cannabis is also associated with problems for pregnant women including lower birth weights and increased likelihood of premature birth, the report said. Mary Brett, the researcher who prepared the study, said she was angered to hear Tony Blair's remark last year that downgrading cannabis was justifiable because 'it was worth seeing what happened.' She said: 'Was this just some huge experiment conducted primarily on our vulnerable young people? How many of them would, prior to down-classification, ever have been tempted to try the drug? And how many now find themselves with a psychiatric problem, perhaps for life?'

 

I do not agree with this-

[Stoney]

well in this day and age who isnt mentally ill i mean really these days you get looked at weird if your normal

 

maybe its just me

 

cheerz :Dj:

[Shack]

i don't agree with that report... there are many countries that have legalized cannabis and have a very low rate of mental illness. the figures of eight out of 10 people with a mental illness smoke marajuana is far fetched considering there is no evidence to suggest that the mental illness is a direct result of the chemicals found in marajuana nor have they addressed whether the mental illness is a result of a particular personalty type ie, addictive, depressive which would drive the succeptable people to smoke marajuana, or for that matter whether these people are a product of circumstances that would both expose them to weed and cause distress enough to develop these conditions. not that people who smoke weed are always criminals or nutcases but it is a drug that's considered to be on the lower end of the classes... people who live in harsher conditions. a weed addiction definetly wouldn't help but it certainly wouldn't be the cause. true?

 

it's not suprising that a lot of people with mental disorders smoke weed, it's a very widespread drug. i'll give you a figure... 7 out of 10 people with a mental illness are right handed, does this mean being right handed makes you succeptable... no, it's all relative

Edited October 20, 2006 by Shack

[WantDaChronic]

The report was prepared for the Tories' social justice policy review in the wake of growing criticism of the Government's decision to downgrade the criminal seriousness of cannabis from Class B to Class C in 2004.

 

that line can read 2 ways:

1) the government is doing the right thing in the wake of increased mental illness since marijuana was downgraded

2) the report is biased to support a political agenda

 

Five years ago, 95 per cent of psychiatrists whould have said that cannabis does not cause psychosis. Now, I would estimate that 95 per cent say it does. It is a quiet epidemic.' The report said that 1.75 million people are thought to use cannabis in Britain each month, that more than a quarter of 14- and 15-year-olds have used it, and that it ranks behind only alcohol and tobacco as the country's most popular drug.

 

ok well if 95% of psychiatrists believe marijuana causes psychosis and there are a reported 1.75 million monthly users of the drug (the real number would be alot higher mind you), how in the fuck come the UK isnt filled to the brim with pshycotic pot heads

 

this is nothing but a biased report that neglected to mention the other 50% of studies that debunk everything they have mentioned its just such ashame that you couldnt fight against this kinda bullshit in the public spotlight without being called pro drugs and being told for every report you can produce saying marijuana is good, they could produce 2 that say its bad

[Elf ex planet hairy]

Its hilarious that noone states that the madness and depression epidemic that they say is happenning is not attributed to the countries leaders ?

 

 

on a site with hemp facts theres a great one about the myth that dope is super strong now and is causing madness , well the strongest dope this century was developed and grown by Merck company and sold as American Cannabis in the 1920-30's,,,,,,,

Edited October 20, 2006 by Elf ex planet hairy

[Shack]

Good point elf. why draw attention to cruelty's and short comings of a government when a naturally occuring plant that they can't control can be blamed

[Xpat Simon]

To me it's all a media blown up story. Although I think when you're young (14 to 20) and do drugs of any kind it has more effect on the brain and body because it's still evolving and it is already getting a lot of information to handle. People of that age are sensitve to develope a mental illness such as schizophrenia and borderline, drugs doesn't really help preventing it.

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People relate Marijuana to the lower classes. But everybody knows marijuana is used in all classes. How else do get down from coke ;-)

[Bundy]

People of that age are sensitve to develope a mental illness such as schizophrenia and borderline, drugs doesn't really help preventing it.

i had borderline personality disorder before i started smoking weed

 

 

 

weed doesn't fix it but it most definately makes it better

Edited October 20, 2006 by Bundy

[Shithappens]

That report stating 8 out of 10 people mentally inflicted do take pot is damm correct to the letter and i dont dought it one bit....

 

WHY:

Becuase the limited support and rehabilitation levels of these people is lacking... the treatments available are not adaquate and the goverment is not doing its job for these people. So they seek what help they can to control there lives and sometimes mind

 

HOW COME ITS THIS HIGH:

These people know what is wrong with them in most cases and they aspire to relax rewind and remain in a state that is to them predictable and enjoyable.

 

No where does it say that the smoking has hindered the management of these people that use it whilst being mentally Ill

 

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS STUDY:

I see no mention as to the relationship or comparison to other factors such as

drinking

parental abuse

other drug abuses

Physical or mental disabilities (genetic or )

Rape

mental breakdowns

Sever illnesses

 

For an objective view the readers sould be quoted ratios to the other known causes of affliction as above.

 

Sorry that just gets me really pissed that that is going to hit the news and be quoted and many people will take it as gospel since it was on the news.

 

Ahhh what a first post to read now im pissed !!!!

[two2time]

i had borderline personality disorder before i started smoking weed

 

 

 

weed doesn't fix it but it most definately makes it better

 

 

i hear you there man , this is one of many things i have as well .... what a little world we live in....but i find it helps lots to the point i dont have to use meds anymore...

its nice to know im not the olny one out there..

 

 

 

 

tt