Cannabis 'link to schizophrenia rise' Softer [UK] drug law blamed

The Observer (UK) ^ | Sunday April 6, 2003 | Jo Revill, health editor

[aculeus]

Stronger cannabis - and users getting stoned to a 'far more debilitating degree' - could lead to a rise in cases of schizophrenia and present the NHS with a much larger bill, a leading drugs expert will warn tomorrow.

Professor John Henry believes that the Government, in its decision to relax the laws on cannabis, has overlooked the burden that greater use puts on health services and on families - as well as the way young people are seeking to heighten the effects of the drug.

Henry, a toxicologist and professor of accident and emergency medicine at Imperial College London, will talk about the medical risks associated with the drug at a conference tomorrow. He fears that several hundred more young people could end up in hospital suffering from schizophrenia, and might need anti-psychotic drugs to deal with their condition.

A year ago the Government announced plans to reduce the classification of cannabis from category B to C, after a recommendation from the Police Federation that it was far less harmful than other drugs. The reclassification takes place this summer, and anyone caught smoking a joint will be much less likely to be arrested or prosecuted for possession.

The policy change follows a controversial scheme in Lambeth, south London, in which the Metropolitan Police decided to focus on hard drug users rather than cannabis smokers. The Met said it achieved great results against hard drug dealers, but some health workers were worried that children in the area felt it was now legal - and safe - to smoke cannabis.

There is mounting concern among psychiatrists about the future impact of the softening of the law. Three million people are thought to smoke cannabis regularly, a quarter of them young adults under the age of 29. It has been shown that more people are growing cannabis for their own consumption.

Some doctors have argued that cannabis can be highly beneficial for patients suffering chronic pain, or those with multiple sclerosis.

However, Henry will warn at the Royal Society of Medicine's conference that there has been a recent, dangerous shift in the way people use cannabis and alcohol.

Recreational use has given way to a cultural acceptance of getting stoned regularly to a 'far more debilitating degree', according to Henry. 'Modern cannabis is nearly 10 times the strength the "flower power" generation was used to, and in Amsterdam it is at least twice as strong as in the UK,' he said. 'We know that for those who take the drug there is a fourfold increase in schizophrenia and a fourfold increase in the chances of suffering major depressive illness. Given that we know schizophrenia accounts for some 3 per cent of the total NHS bill, the costs could go up by another 1 per cent. That should be urgently considered by the Government.'

Henry believes there are emerging mental health problems associated with THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the main active ingredient of cannabis, which in greater concentrations makes more potent forms of the drug, such as 'skunk'.

To investigate its effects on the brain, a study is about to begin at the Maudsley Hospital in south London. Volunteers will be offered free cannabis, so that researchers can carry out brain scans and conduct memory tests to see how mental activity is affected.

Professor Robin Murray, who is leading the study, said his view of the drug had changed in recent years. He used to be sceptical when cannabis was blamed. 'Relatives would say "It seems to be the cannabis that makes my son or daughter or brother psychotic" and I would say, "Oh, they're being hysterical, they're just trying to look for something to blame". We've come to realise that it does have a significant effect, but it has taken us a long time to wake up to this.'

Others, however, point to the fact that rates of schizophrenia have not risen dramatically in the past 50 years to correspond with increasing use of the drug. There is also a question over whether those who are likely to develop schizophrenia are already predisposed to take cannabis.

Recent guidance on the provision of drugs for schizophrenia by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice) estimated that treatment of schizophrenia in England and Wales was responsible for around 3 per cent of the entire NHS budget - some £1 billion a year.

Cliff Prior, chief executive of Rethink, a charity helping those with mental illness, said: 'The public needs to understand that this danger is real. There is growing evidence that cannabis may trigger schizophrenia in vulnerable people.'

Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003

[dennisw]

More schizophrenia in the young? Quite possible. I hear marijuana is much more powerful than it used to be. Does this softened law cover hashish which is even stronger?

[Petronski]

This is another compelling reason to take marijuana seriously, but still no reason to deprive terminally ill patients from the paliative relief it can provide.

[Pearls Before Swine]

You can be a beer alcoholic, you can be a wine alcoholic, you can be a desert wine alcoholic (the 20% stuff), you can be a whiskey/vodka alcholic, or you can steal the pure (not denatured) ethyl alchol from the hospital alcoholic. If you can socially drink, you'll moderate yourself. If you can socially toke, you'll just smoke less of the stronger stuff ("No thanks, I'm a bit wasted and have to function tomorrow).

We're hearing about the addicitive personalities here. That shouldn't determine what is and isn't possible for everyone else.

[jammer]

We know that for those who take the drug there is a fourfold increase in schizophrenia and a fourfold increase in the chances of suffering major depressive illness.

I don't smoke pot, don't like pot, don't advocate that anyone smoke pot. But this is so misleading that it is a lie. There are no fourfold "increases"--there are fourfold higher rates in those populations. Which could just as easily mean--and much more probably DOES mean--that shizophrenics and depressed people are more likely to use it. Post hoc, ergo propter hoc logical fallacy perpetuated by this guy.

[lilylangtree]

Uday Hussein started early.

[clamper1797]

Also reported was a four fold rise in white women seeking sex with black jazz musicians.

[BrooklynGOP]

I hear marijuana is much more powerful than it used to be

Urban myth.

[eleni121]

Uday used cannabis? Source please...?

[RLK]

Cannabis IS schizophrenia in self-administered form. The acquired thought processes under it guide the person into utilizing the same mentality without it.

[eleni121]

I am aware of the Hussein clan being involved in illegal drug smuggling to the west but as for use I have never heard this. Using is only promoted for use among the Western Christian devils...

[JoeSchem]

I hear marijuana is much more powerful than it used to be

Urban myth.

Classic denial.

[Yeti]

Cannabis IS schizophrenia in self-administered form.

I could agree with that statement about some drugs, especially those in the category of LSD-type hallucinogens, but marijuana? I don't think so.

[BrooklynGOP]

Classic denial.

You going to link me to a factual study that states that today's marijuana is more potent then that of the past? Or will you display your ignorance by not replying?

[Cold Heat]

I hear marijuana is much more powerful than it used to be.

That is a serious understatement. The new stuff out does hashish. It must be way more toxic. It has effects on breathing, etc. (it scared the hell out of me, and I was a heavy user back 35 years or so)

[Senator Pardek]

My thoughts on that here.

[Cold Heat]

I am definately no stranger to drugs. In my younger days I stayed stoned for years. Heroin, hashish, LSD, peyote,mescalin, crystal meth and you name it.

A guy I know gave me a joint about a year ago and I smoked half of it.

I ended up on the floor, unable to move. Total body stone. Scary.....................

[dennisw]

Thanks. Haven't touched that stupid stuff in years and years. Alcohol is the European drug. Was good enough for my ancestors and it's good enough for me. My policy is to avoid drugs that are native to the 3rd world, favored in the 3rd world, traditional to the 3rd world and grown in the 3rd world.

[Cold Heat]

I had a rather interesting 3yr hitch in the Army. It was a bad time.

I like my beer and the only drugs I use regularly now, come as a prescription. Unfortunately I need some addicting stuff but I withdraw cold turkey occasionally just for good measure.