Substance abuse cannabis

Comparable findings for lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorders were obtained in another study of 133 persons, which also found that 47% received a concurrent DSM-III diagnosis of substance abuse or dependence (Khantzian and Treece 1985). The most frequently abused substances were sedative-hypnotics (23%), alcohol (14%), and cannabis (13%). Similar rates of psychiatric disorders were found in other studies of drug abusers (Mirin et al. 1986 Woody et al. 1983). Although such diagnoses do not imply causality, and, in many cases, opioid dependence causes or exacerbates psychiatric problems, some causal link seems likely (Regier et al. 1990). 

Miller NS and Gold MS (1989). The diagnosis of marijuana (cannabis) dependence. Journal of Substance Abuse and Treatment, 6, 183-192. 

Cannabis carries some potential for dependence and addiction. Compared to cocaine, heroin, alcohol, and nicotine, cannabis has lesser addictive potential and withdrawal effects, but some users do develop compulsive and maladaptive use patterns that require treatment (Taylor 1998). Individuals with underlying psychopathology or tendencies for substance abuse should be particularly leery of using cannabis in the interests of avoiding compulsive use patterns. 

Jockers-Scherubl, M. C., H. Danker-Hopfe, R. Mahlberg, et al. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor serum concentrations are increased in drug-naive schizophrenic patients with chronic cannabis abuse and multiple substance abuse. Neurosci Lett 2004 371(1) 79-83. 

Neurotrophins, such as nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), are implicated in neuronal development, growth, plasticity, and maintenance of function. Neurodevelopment is impaired in schizophrenia and vulnerable schizophrenic brains may be more sensitive to toxic influences. Thus, cannabis may be more neurotoxic to schizophrenic brains than to nonschizophrenic brains when used chronically. In 157 drug-naive first-episode schizophrenic patients there were significantly raised BDNF serum concentrations by up to 34% in patients with chronic cannabis abuse or multiple substance abuse before the onset of the disease (114). Thus, raised BDNF serum concentrations are not related to schizophrenia and /or substance abuse itself but may reflect cannabis-related idiosyncratic damage to the schizophrenic brain. Disease onset was 5.2 years earlier in the cannabis-consuming group. 

There are two primary sources for the information in this section. In 1998, ONDCP supported a study by the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine (lOM) on marijuana s potential benefits and harms. In one of the quotes from Drug Czar John Walters in an earlier section of this chapter, he refers to a result from this study. The lOM report is one source for the information reviewed here. The second source is a book titled Cannabis Use and Dependence Public Health and Public Policy (Cannabis Book). The authors are from the University of Queensland (Australia) and the RAND Corporation s Drug Policy Research Center, a well-respected organization that receives a lot of federal grant money in the substance abuse area. The Cannabis Book contains an impressive review of literature on all aspects of marij uana use, effects, and policy. In a review appearing in aprofessional journal, this book was described as ... the most comprehensive and honest attempt to improve the quality of the public policy debate on cannabis. " While it is probably not possible for any source to be completely objective, these documents seem to be very balanced and no discemable bias could be detected. 

Frishman,W. H., Del Vecchio, A., Sanal, S., and Ismail, A. (2003) Cardiovascular manifestations of substance abuse part 2 alcohol, amphetamines, heroin, cannabis, and caffeine. Heart Dis. 5, 253-271. 

The abused substances covered in this chapter include nicotine, alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines, cannabis, and opioids. While many more substances can be and have been abused, these drugs are among the most popular. 

Given the low incidence of severe withdrawal symptoms and the modest effects on the mesolimbic dopamine (reward) system, most investigators have found that cannabis has a low abuse or addiction potential. However, it has been argued that if cannabis is a non-addictive substance, why is its use so widespread and why are there so many longterm and heavy users Finally, contrary to the evidence that cannabis can produce chronic tolerance, some regular users report that they require less drug to achieve the same high, or sensitisation (Chapter 3). Three possible explanations may account for this. First, chronic users may focus on the effects that they wish to achieve. Second, the... 

In order to limit this ambiguity, the terms psychoactive substances (referring to licit and illicit substances, e.g., caffeine and nicotine but also cannabis and heroin) and dmgs of abuse (referring only to recreational dmgs, e.g., cocaine, cannabis, etc.) will be used throughout the present work. 

The hemp plant, or cannabis (Cannabis saliva), continues to be the most frequently abused illicit substance in America. The dried leaves and flowering tops of the plant are referred to as marijuana, and it is typically smoked in pipes or rolled as cigarettes. It also may be consumed in baked goods. Hashish is a solid black resinous material obtained from the leaves of the plant and is usually smoked in a pipe. 

Psychosocial morbidity association. Cannabis dependence is a prevalent comorbid substance use disorder among patients early in the course of a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder. Among 29 eligible patients, 18 participated in the study. First-episode patients with comorbid cannabis dependence (n = 8) reported significantly greater childhood physical and sexual abuse compared with those without comorbid cannabis dependence (n = 10). The result indicated the preliminary evidence of an association between childhood maltreatment and cannabis dependence among this especially vulnerable population. Child-... 

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