Dagga users 5 times more likely to develop schizophrenia

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KarooKlonkie

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Dagga users 5 times more likely to develop schizophrenia

Those who abuse the drug – now more potent than ever in the form of super-strength ‘skunk’ – are 5.2 times as likely to develop schizophrenia.

This compares to 1.9 times for hallucinogenic drugs and 1.24 times for amphetamines. Danish researchers trawled more than 3.1million people’s medical records to ascertain the link between cannabis use and schizophrenia.
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http://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/dagga-users-5-times-more-likely-to-develop-schizophrenia-2082395
 
Even if cannabis is stronger now than it was, people will self-moderate (in the same way people will consume differing amounts of alcohol, depending on its strength). I think the hysteria over 'skunk' is anti-drug misinformation.

As for the schizophrenia thing - Well, it's pretty easy to find research to support just about any position you like. I've nothing much to say about this in particular, aside from the fact that it's obvious that people susceptible to mental health problems are going to need to exercise extreme caution around any psychoactive substances. I am vaguely curious how they reached the figure they did though...
 
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copacetic said:
I've nothing much to say about this in particular, aside from the fact that it's obvious that people susceptible to mental health problems are going to need to exercise extreme caution around any psychoactive substances. I am vaguely curious how they reached the figure they did though...
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Exactly! Both the IOL and the Daily Mail articles about this study's results conveniently left out this information from the study -

"The researchers found that a diagnosis of any substance abuse elevated the risk of developing schizophrenia by 6 times; for cannabis users the risk increased by 5.2 times, for alcohol the increased risk was 3.4 times. This compares to 1.9 times for hallucinogenic drugs, 1.7 times for sedatives, 1.24 times for amphetamines and other substances 2.8 times.

The researchers, however, acknowledge their work does not prove that substance abuse causes schizophrenia, but thanks to the mass medical records study looked at, they asserted that it underscores a strong correlation between schizophrenia and substance abuse.

According to the researchers, one possibility is that people who are vulnerable to schizophrenia also have a higher probability of abusing substances. They may also be susceptible to both substance abuse and schizophrenia development.

They pointed out people may be schizophrenics prior to using cannabis and are more likely to take the substance in the early stages of this mental illness to calm themselves."

The media just loves their sensational headlines to grab peoples attention, but when you go look at what the researchers actually said about their research different conclusions can often be found.
 
I think it's safe to say that getting complex science and health information from The Daily Mail is not a great idea.
 
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KarooKlonkie said:
Exactly! Both the IOL and the Daily Mail articles about this study's results conveniently left out this information from the study -

"The researchers found that a diagnosis of any substance abuse elevated the risk of developing schizophrenia by 6 times; for cannabis users the risk increased by 5.2 times, for alcohol the increased risk was 3.4 times. This compares to 1.9 times for hallucinogenic drugs, 1.7 times for sedatives, 1.24 times for amphetamines and other substances 2.8 times.

The researchers, however, acknowledge their work does not prove that substance abuse causes schizophrenia, but thanks to the mass medical records study looked at, they asserted that it underscores a strong correlation between schizophrenia and substance abuse.

According to the researchers, one possibility is that people who are vulnerable to schizophrenia also have a higher probability of abusing substances. They may also be susceptible to both substance abuse and schizophrenia development.

They pointed out people may be schizophrenics prior to using cannabis and are more likely to take the substance in the early stages of this mental illness to calm themselves."

The media just loves their sensational headlines to grab peoples attention, but when you go look at what the researchers actually said about their research different conclusions can often be found.
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I don't know where you sourced the bolded bit from but it's incorrect. In fact, the researchers said the exact opposite:
But the researchers at Copenhagen University Hospital’s Mental Health Centre also found evidence implying that cannabis made the brain schizophrenic. In a second study they discovering that pregnant women who abused cannabis gave birth to children six times more likely to become schizophrenics. This suggests the physical effects of the drug could be passed on in the womb.

Study leader Dr Carsten Hjorthøj, said: ‘We know a child in its mother’s womb is not doing this by choice, is not medicating itself. For me, that does set upon the idea that cannabis is a causal mechanism.
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KarooKlonkie said:
The bolded bit came from the same source as the rest of the quote. From HERE
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Thanks, you should edit your original post to include the link to your source from which you're quoting.

So two articles about the same research saying complete opposite things!

Newspaper / Web articles about 'research' now remind me of this:

[video=youtube_share;0Rnq1NpHdmw]https://youtu.be/0Rnq1NpHdmw[/video]
 
Well even more reason to regulate it so people can be identified as a risk and treated as opposed to sent to prison.
 
saturnz said:
Well even more reason to regulate it so people can be identified as a risk and treated as opposed to sent to prison.
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Or just have a generally robust, society-wide system in place for mental health support?

What do you mean by regulate?
 
There's a world of a difference between the 'use' in the headline and the abuse in the article. Abuse anything and you're looking for trouble. Why should I give a rats arse about what happens to someone who abuses any substance. Try sugar. Or alcohol. Or fat. Or virtually anything.
 
YeOldeOke said:
There's a world of a difference between the 'use' in the headline and the abuse in the article. Abuse anything and you're looking for trouble. Why should I give a rats arse about what happens to someone who abuses any substance. Try sugar. Or alcohol. Or fat. Or virtually anything.
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yup they don't make that differentiation, you consume one joint and you are considered a drug addict well on your way to becoming a liability to society
 
YeOldeOke said:
There's a world of a difference between the 'use' in the headline and the abuse in the article. Abuse anything and you're looking for trouble. Why should I give a rats arse about what happens to someone who abuses any substance. Try sugar. Or alcohol. Or fat. Or virtually anything.
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What's the difference?
 
C4Cat said:
What's the difference?
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There is responsible, casual use and then there is abuse, which is typically chronic, uncontrolled and usually leads to detrimental effects and harms upon the person taking the substances. It is much the same as somebody drinking alcohol. There are people who use alcohol moderately and responsibly and then there are those who abuse it i.e. alcoholics. Most people can distinguish between the two behavioral patterns of moderated use versus unmoderated abuse. Sure there can be and usually still are inherent risks associated with either, but the risks become greater the more excessive the use becomes.
 
YeOldeOke said:
There's a world of a difference between the 'use' in the headline and the abuse in the article. Abuse anything and you're looking for trouble. Why should I give a rats arse about what happens to someone who abuses any substance. Try sugar. Or alcohol. Or fat. Or virtually anything.
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How do you define use & abuse in the context of weed? Is smoking a joint a day every day considered use or abuse?
 
I think only the user themself can decide/know whether their partaking of a substance (weed or otherwise) is use or abuse, because it is subjective. One joint per day may have a serious effect on some people, but not pose much problem to a seasoned smoker without any genetic predisposition to developing mental issues. It is certainly not a matter of one size fits all.
 
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