MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

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Introduction

Cannabis is a genus of plants. Different parts of the plant as roots, shoots and flowering tops have been used over the history as a recreational substance for its special effects and have been formulated into certain substances. The substances mostly differ in the concentration of active ingredients and route of consumption.

The evidence of Cannabis use can be traced back to 2727 B.C in China, even in Romans and Greeks. And through the Middle East cannabis has made its way to all of the world and Cannabis is maintaining its status as one of the most common drug of abuse. The most common formulation is known as Marijuana and is also referred to as pot, weed or grass as slang.

The statistics regarding the use of pot or marijuana are reported to have been doubled over a period of a decade in US [2] and has increased up to 10% all over the world [19]. The increasing use of substance leads to a greater probability of abuse. But, the abuse of cannabis has been reported decreased over time [2].

The decrease is probably caused by awareness in the masses about the harmful effects and vulnerability to the harmful effects of cannabis. The harmful effects documented range from mild and temporary to severe and permanent.

Most of the permanent harmful effects are reported to have resulted from heavy prolonged use and abuse. But still cannabis abuse is reported in significant numbers and is far from being completely eliminated.

Thus further research should be conducted to generate more trustable and better evidence-supported material to address the issue of cannabis abuse in a better and more effective way.

Discussion

Psychiatric Effects of Cannabis

Evidence and statistical data suggests that Cannabis is associated with a number of psychiatric conditions and diseases. These conditions are either directly related to the use of cannabis of are caused indirectly associated with it.

Most common psychiatric effects of cannabis use include euphoria and an unusual feeling of physical and mental well-being. Certain Side effects of cannabis use are also reported including mood changes, psychosis, mental disorders, tolerance and dependence.

Cannabis effects on mood changes

There is a strong evidence of mood changes associated with the use of cannabis. The mode changes initially are an unusual feeling of relaxation, happiness and euphoria. But some adverse effects also occur but are mostly short-lived.

Thomas concluded that the use of cannabis was associated with panic attacks and anxiety in more than 20% of his subjects, after screening a thousand individuals evaluating them by a self-administered questionnaire for cannabis use and its effects.

Majority of his subjects that used cannabis were adults in their twenties and had used cannabis more than fifty times in their life and the effects were more common in heavy users and predominant in previous users. But a self-administered questionnaire has no way to confirm the honesty and proper understanding of the question by the subject [21].MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

A study conducted on rural Australian chronic cannabis users, who have been using it for at least ten years,­­ reported paranoid behavior and depression in 21% of his subjects and feeling of being tired, decreased motivation in 21% of subjects.

A very high proportion of the subjects abused alcohol and tobacco as well. The unevaluated exposures make the finding less reliable [18]. Troisi reported major and mild depression in his subjects and the incidence was significantly higher in subjects with cannabis dependence than in subjects with cannabis abuse.

The studied population did not use any other drug which is a superiority of this research on studies in the sense of minimizing confounders [23]….CRITICALLY EVALUATE EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FOR THE CLAIM THAT CANNABIS USE CAN LEAD TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.