Weed linked to Anxiety? There's a newsflash...
Sep 29, 2008 at 8:45 AM 
Hearing that weed smoking may be linked to anxiety and depression is as shocking as hearing that Clay Aiken was gay. None the less...the article below is an interesting read.
"Cannabis smokers are more likely to suffer depression, anxiety and
psychosis than stimulant drug takers, according to Australian
statistics suggesting the herb's toll on mental health has been
underestimated.
The impact of amphetamines on mental state is
well known but a new national report shows dope smokers display higher
rates of several psychological symptoms when visiting their doctor.
Of
patients who mentioned cannabis use to their GP, 48 per cent had a
psychological problem, including 19 per cent with depression and nine
per cent with psychosis. Six per cent had anxiety.
Only 31 per
cent of stimulant users reported similar problems, with significantly
lower rates of all conditions, according to the latest bulletin
released by the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre in
Sydney.
Director, professor Jan Copeland, said the results
confirm the dangers of the drug, especially for the 300,000 Australians
who smoke it daily.
"It was unexpected, given what we hear about
amphetamine-related psychotic symptoms, but it goes to show what a
terrible impact cannabis is having on users," Prof Copeland said.
"The delusions, hallucinations and paranoia can be very distressing and people are feeling it."
The
results, in data collected from 1,000 randomly-selected GPs, also
revealed that mentioning cannabis use to a doctor was very rare, with
the drug named in just 19,000 consultations nationwide each year.
Users were more likely to be male, young, unemployed or on a low income and indigenous.
"The
low numbers are a major concern given the sheer number of users and the
effects we know that use is having," Prof Copeland said.
She said too many users still believed cannabis had few health consequences or were nervous mentioning a drug habit to a doctor.
But Australian Medical Association chair of general practice Dr Rod Pearce said stressed the importance of consulting a doctor.
"Illegality
is a non-issue for us and it absolutely has to be given the increasing
body of research linking cannabis smoking with psychiatric illness," Dr
Pearce said.
"I'm not being wowserish either. This is a serious problem."
About 1.5 million Australians have used cannabis in the past year, with 750,000 smoking it weekly.
Studies
show most people do not experience major problems with occasional use
but heavy use can lead to depression, memory loss, lung damage, low sex
drive and even brain shrinkage."
Reader Comments (7)
this is a win...
this bums me out, and im sober
that's funny, usually i get a hard-on that won't quit. it's like one of those viagra commercials, only i can't call my doctor after 4 hours
Anxiety!? That's some bullshit! Doctors cause anxiety! When I smoke, I think less and less about the doctor.
I started getting weird sensations in my head, with the panic attack and hopelessness> the only relief I seem to get is when I am asleep. I have done a lot of reading on depression and am looking for something more natural to try. I read up on "kiwi drug" about a natural pill called 5-htp. I was wondering if anyone has tried these out before? Or f they know onf anything else good to use.
wadonxrum981
There is always plenty of capital for those who can create practical plans for using it
any food is good but you do not abuse it...so is alcohol and tobacco and cannabis