Substance abuse cannabis drugs

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). 

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. 

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. 

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... 

The most well-known drugs of abuse are heroin, cocaine, cannabis, LSD, amphetamines, and ecstasy. They all cause different kinds of effects and their toxic effects are also different. The first three of these are derived from or closely aUied to substances found in plants. LSD is similar to substances found in a fungus which affects crops (see pp. 244-7). h is appropriate to consider these substances here as they are drugs in the accepted sense of the word, and some of them have legitimate uses as well as being drugs of abuse. 

Separated from the main Law in 1960, the Pharmacists Law deals with the activities of pharmacists, examination, licensing and duties the Law concerning the Organization for Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices was recently revised. Several other laws are involved in pharmaceutical administration. Their scope is restricted to limited areas and most of them aim at preventing drug abuse and health damages. They are the Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Law, the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law, the Cannabis Control Law, the Opium Law, the Stimulants Control Law, and the Blood Collection and Blood Donation Services Control Law. 

The analgesic properties of cannabinoid derivatives are well known, though no such drugs have yet been demonstrated to be substantially free from the CNS side effects to which cannabis sativa owes its popularity as a substance of abuse.However, cannabinoid analgesia has appeal due to its opioid-independent mechanism and its conseguent failure to induce dependence.A series of preliminary reports " have described the syntheses of analgesics modelled on 9-nor-9-B-hydroxyhexahvdrocannabinol compound Jl8 was the most potent member (>60 X morphine). ... 

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