[Billthedrill]

Well, if I might stick my oar in here, it appears that there weren't any direct references in the article, although the 1987 Swiss study might be worth running down (I skimmed the 'net for it with no success so far, but what she said about it is intriguing. The November 2000 British Medical Journal isn't, alas, available online). But I did find just how wide the range of correlation is between substance abuse and paranoid schizophrenia HERE. Contrary to the article's claim, nobody can really say whether we have cause-and-effect here or simple positive correlation. The range is just too wide.

Of the drugs correlated with schizophrenia alcohol is by far numero uno, but pot is right up there. I'd guess in both cases the fact that both are much more widely available than other drugs of abuse may skew the numbers. I worked for a brief time in the mental health treatment field, and I can testify that giving a disturbed person any recreational drug is likely to make them worse. Which shouldn't be a revelation to anybody...

[missyme]

SO now all the recreational drug users form the 60's 70' 80' are nut cases???

[mac_truck]

But I did find just how wide the range of correlation is between substance abuse and paranoid schizophrenia HERE.

I agree. The scientists interviewed for the article were pretty clear that the causal realtionship is specifically between cannibis and mental illness, as opposed to the broader catagory of substance abuse.

As far as direct references go I found this one with no problem An Interview with Dr Nadia Solowij , and there are plenty of others available.

[mac_truck]

The November 2000 British Medical Journal isn't, alas, available online)

I found this at the BMJ website More evidence establishes clear link between use of cannabis and psychiatric illness

how hard were you looking?