Posted on 10/08/2004 2:43:56 PM PDT by Libloather
Marijuana Abuse Affected by Genes and Environment
17 minutes ago
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Previous research has established a moderate relationship between marijuana abuse and depressive disorders. Now researchers report that the association between marijuana use and major depression probably arises from a combination of shared genetic and environmental vulnerabilities.
Lead author Dr. Michael T. Lynskey and colleagues report the findings of their large study in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
To examine the role of genetics and shared childhood environment in the relationship between marijuana abuse and major depression, Lynskey, at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and his team interviewed individuals enrolled in the Australian Twin Register, at around 30 years of age.
They identified 277 pairs in which one twin used marijuana while the other didn't. The odds of depression, suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide were 1.3 to 3.4 times more likely in the marijuana-using twin compared with the twin who was not a user. The strength of the association was higher in fraternal twins than identical twins
This latter finding "implies that shared or correlated genetic vulnerabilities make substantial contributions" to the association between marijuana use and depression, the authors report.
Depression onset before age 17 or early suicidal thoughts in fraternal twin pairs, but not identical pairs, was significantly associated with rates of marijuana dependence.
Altogether, these results suggest that "depression does not cause people to use (marijuana), or that (marijuana) use and dependence do not in themselves cause depression," Lynskey said in an interview with Reuters Health. "So from a clinical point of view, it is not necessarily the case that eliminating one of those will automatically get rid of the other."
In other words, he added, both problems "need to be addressed within the treatment setting."
SOURCE: Archives of General Psychiatry, October 2004.
Almost sounds like it's addictive - no?
Dang, that bums me out. Think I'll fire up a doobie...
Only the marijuana-using twin knows the pain of finding the 7-11 closed at three in the morning.
Oh, man, bummer.
Hence the origin of the phrase,
"Dude, that's a bummer".
Heavens no! 'Ah feel his pain'.
Or the pain of losing your only lighter down the heater vent...!
Life can be depressing. Some things just enhance it..
I guess the John Stewart character on 'Half Baked' would say:
"HAVE YOU EVER BEEN DEPRESSED?... HAVE YOU EVER BEEN DEPRESSED... ON WEED?!"
Read the words, if you are literate: Altogether, these results suggest that "depression does not cause people to use (marijuana), or that (marijuana) use and dependence do not in themselves cause depression," They are saying there is no correlation.
Does wearing blue polyester cause idiocy? Sure seems that way.
Author appears to be stoned..
Almost sounds like it's addictive - no?
You can become psychologically dependent on almost anything. This is the very very thin thread that drug "treatment" for marijuana users hangs on to.
However, unlike caffeine, nicotine, opiates, alcohol, etc. marijuana is not physically addictive.
How many drinks have you had today? I bet I can find someone who thinks you ought to be remanded into involuntary treatment.
It does form dependency in some users ... though less often than does alcohol.
Read on:
"The strength of the association was higher in fraternal twins than identical twins.
"This latter finding "implies that shared or correlated genetic vulnerabilities make substantial contributions" to the association between marijuana use and depression [...]
"Altogether, these results suggest that '[...] (marijuana) use and dependence do not in themselves cause depression,'"
Quit 'Bogarting' that thing, would you?
Never said it was. The article does mention 'rates of marijuana dependence', though. You seem to have a problem addressing it. Are you a doctor? What medical background or experience, other than maybe the occasional tetanus shot, do you have?
(Oh, and your insults and tiny diversions only add to the experience of watching you attempt to explain what little opinion you seem to hold...)
Anything that gives you pleasure can be psychologically addicting. I'm addicted to sex, golf, piano playing, chocolate, driving my convertible. I have to have all these to survive.
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