From MindHacks' Vaughan Bell (who is NOT pictured here)
This is an important response from someone who's an expert in all things mental-health-y:
I think it's borderline irresponsible to disuade people of the idea that the drugs they take have no effect on the brain and consequently their risk of mental illness.For example, there is now reliably replicated evidence that certain drugs increase the risk for psychosis. This does not mean this is the only cause, but it is a significant contributory factor. Over the whole population, the effect is relatively small but it the risk varies depending on the drug taken and the individual taking it.
For example, with enough amphetamine or crack, almost everyone will become psychotic. However, cannabis seems to be much more idiosyncratic and recent replicated evidence suggest it interacts with genetic risk so certain people are much more at risk for psychosis when they take cannabis than others without the genetic risk (it seems to depend on a version of a gene known as COMT, it is likely that other genes might have similar interactions which have yet to be found).
Please note, these are not correlational studies. They are studies from which a cause can be determined.
Drug use is your own choice, but it must be done in the knowledge of the risk you are taking.
This includes an increased risk for mental or neurological illness.
I think Vaughan makes some really good points here. I think it's possible that studies from the U.S. and the U.K. have different results. Also, as clarification: I'm not condoning recreational drug use. I think anyone who has a mental illness and uses recreational drugs is just asking for trouble. With fragile brain chemistry, the introduction of any psychotropic element can have serious implications. In particular, I really REALLY am opposed to crack, something Vaughan mentions. I mean, who isn't?
But we need to keep pot use in the U.S. in context. This country is so puritanical and reactionary when it comes to marijuana laws. I get nervous about the idea of anti-drug activists exploiting these studies to fuel their ideology.
[photo by hungaro phantasto]
Comments
I promise to be quiet and let others post comments- just wanted to find out where to get a camera lens like that to use in my Speedo photos!
Posted by: HS | October 18, 2006 02:58 PM
"From MindHacks' Vaughan Bell (who is NOT pictured here)"
I should hope not too (anyway, I only smoke pipes).
Posted by: Vaughan | October 18, 2006 04:41 PM
I did want to clarify, lest there be a misunderstanding of some kind.
Posted by: Liz | October 18, 2006 05:13 PM
Came across this article in the Science Daily Headlines; if, as they seem to say, marijuana helps Alzheimer's dementia, then I already know what to do when that time comes. The URL: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/10/061018151055.htm
Posted by: gena | October 18, 2006 11:58 PM
This kinda screams DUH to me.
As much of a 'duh' as the fifteen pages of written materials that come with my prescription meds and the sensible but dim way they drive me apeshit with their devilish details.
The take-away from my monthly quick read (yeah, I do read them. every time) seem to point to sensibility and karma.
Reading the provided leaflets for me is like my insurance policy, the clean unders in case I get into a car accident. Like the karmic balance should somehow shift by rite of my tidy whities or the fact that I can prattle back not only every neurological symptom but also the ocular symptomolgy of the single person whose eyeball accidentally exploded during the drug trials-- yes, all these things that may occur while I am taking this medication).
Anecdotal experience: I have never been able to balance a hypomanic or manic episode without asskicking (and not in the good way) drugs.
Anecdotal experience, part II: I have smoked cannabis -- yea verily, I have inhaled (and I'd have let that intern into my office in that dress if given the chance). I have been able to tamp down the Big Major Joyous Freakiness enough to keep myself out of psychiatric hospitals, far from jails and capable of "maintaining". I can live inside my skin, albeit uncomfortably, but I can DO that when using cannabis. If I take the big scary horse tranks like all the smart people tell me I should be doing, I promise you: I'll sleep right through my life.
What kind of tradeoff is that?
Posted by: McBeth | October 20, 2006 03:18 AM
ah, but when that time comes, by definition, you will forget.
Posted by: daelm | October 23, 2006 01:23 PM