Cannabis and Mental Health: Cause or Cure?
- Research on cannabis and its effect on mental illness is complicated by the fact that it is not just one common substance.
- Zach Walsh spends a lot of time exploring the links between cannabis use, mental health, and addiction
In Canada, where the legalization of cannabis is slowly but surely growing, there is a growing interest in its medical use, especially in the area of mental illness. Perhaps also because it is a problem that affects every fifth Canadian.
They usewith mental illness hamp to relieve them or use them just because they suffer from some mental illness?
The reality is that besides tobacco and alcohol it is cannabis the most common psychoactive substance used by the general public, and it is inevitable that potential overlapping of cannabis and mental illness will lead to increased questions for doctors.
And yet most ppeople share a similar experience: when they ask a doctor if they could not use cannabis usecould help with their mental illness, this question is usually swept away from the table. Hemp bears a stigit has banned drugs and it will take a long time to get rid of it. And therefore, when it comes to cannabis and the treatment of mental illnesses, there are people who compare this situation to a hen and egg puzzle. People use mental illness cannabis to relieve them or use them just because they suffer from some mental illness?
Protthat research in this area is minimal and doctors are often uncommon, the information is unofficial and is mainly derived from the testimonies of sick people.
Toronto photothe graph and activist Andy Lee uses cannabis along with therapy to treat depression and anxiety. He came to this combination after trying antidepressants and finding that they didnt help him.
His dockHe clearly indicated to him that he was against the treatment of mental illness by cannabisso Lee decided to find another doctor who had no problem with the prescription. "I know its a hot topic and taboo, but it helped me," he says.
"I know this is a thorny subject, but it helped me." - Andy Lee on the treatment of depression cannabis
Even though he discovered the treatment that helps him, he admits that there are certainly risks when he does cannabis taken in excess. "Its a medicinal plant, but it shouldnt be abused and taken for granted," he says. "Its like antibiotics, the more the body gets used to them, the less positive influence it brings."
Claire Gabereau souvotes. Vancouver Costume Designer Smoked Cannabis for years. When she was diagnosed with depression and borderline personality disorder, the doctor strongly warned her about using cannabis. But her psychiatrist was more open and never criticized her for her habits. The problem occurred when another examination showed that he was suffering from substance abuse. She decided not to start taking antidepressants and stay sober.
"I didnt like that my psychiatrist wassludge like "sobriety can be good for you, heres a bunch of drugs," Gabereau comments.
Its been three months since Gabereau changed her habits and her depression and anxiety began to subside. "I dont want to go back to smoking so much because Im definitely paranoid and anxious," she says. Cannabis it can certainly be used as a tool and medicine, but since I have been abusing it for too long, it has lost its value and meaning to me.
An invaluable research from Israel
Most scientists agree that the compounds found in cannabis Known as cannabinoids, they have a clear influence on human biology. There are still many gaps in research on the role that cannabis can play in the treatment of mental illness. Especially in the United States, where research is dampened by the position of cannabis, which is referred to as class 1 narcotic.
Shauli Lev-Ran is a Tel Aviv psychiatr, specializing in addiction. It focuses on the psychiatric aspects of cannabis use and the link between pain, mental disorders and the risk of addiction.
Regularlyit treats patients with both mental disorders and cannabis use disorders. When legislation and regulation surrounding cannabis began to change in the United States and Canada, it began to go deeper into the connection between mental health and cannabis.
Despite his expertise, however, Lev-Ran admits that, as far as hen and egg theory is concerned, what was before, whether mental illness or cannabis addiction, has come to a definite conclusion. "Its complicated, there are a lot of methodological problems that frustrate our efforts to get the most sensible results on our questions," he says.
In 2013, Lev-Ran conducted a challengem through the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto. This study used corpus data collected by the National Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Institute (NIAAA) and was a cross-cutting study of over 43,000 people, the largest epidemiological study of mental disorders and substance abuse. Lev-Ran has found that people with a mental disorder are more than seven times more likely to use cannabis every week than those without disease.
More specifically, the study examined differences in valuesuse and use of cannabis among people with mental illnesses and those who were not. The research was based on the amount of mental illnesses and their types and intensity of cannabis consumption. And it is Lev-Ran who considers it difficult to quantify the amount consumed. Unlike alcohol, cannabis dosing is not standardized.
"Lev-Ran found out in humansMental Disorder is more than seven times more likely to use it hemp every week than those without disease . "
"We can talk about frequency and we can talk about dosing, but neither is standardized," he explains. "When I smoke two joints a day that have a low THC content, its one thing. But when you do I smoke skunk or joint shigh THC and a large joint that is not mixed with tobacco may seem like it, but its not, theres a big difference.
This was followed by Lev-Rans meta-analysis from thousands of already existing studies and through which he found that people who were using cannabis were more prone to develop depression. At the same time, however, he found that in many of the meta-analysis studies some factors were not taken into account, such as childhood education and family history of substance abuse.
In 2016, Lev-Ran conducted anotherresearch that focused on people who have never suffered from depression, both for cannabis users and those who have not used cannabis. Research has shown that users who have never suffered from depression are at greater risk of having a mental disorder begin than those who have not used cannabis. The research also analyzed data from the National Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Institute, and this time, 34,000 individuals were attending in 2013.
Lev-Ran found that regardless of the regularity (or irregularity) of usee cannabis , did not prove the difference between depression rates. Conversely, individuals who suffered from depression were more prone to taking cannabis, as opposed to those without depression.
"We can say hempí its not very harmful, but it doesnt help much either. "- Shauli Lev-Ran
Next, Lev-Ran dealt with whether cannabis is helping people with depression. He explored people suffering from depression, both those who used cannabis and those who did not, and found that there were only slight differences between the two groups. It is a conclusion that can be interpreted in two ways.
"We can say that cannabis nbut it does not help too much, "he says, noting that this conclusion is based on only one study." But it shows how we approach these questions. "
Research on cannabis and itsThe effect on mental illness is complicated by the fact that it is not just one common substance. There are thousands of varieties, and each plant contains hundreds of chemical compounds, such as carabinoids and terpenes.
"Its methat we are not talking about one particular compound, "he says. "So throw all the users cannabis it is ridiculous in one bag. "
Research on mental disorders such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia is clearer. Cannabis is the trigger of these diseases and can lead to their deterioration. However, the risk of any disease or disorder is a combination of predispositions and exposure to risk factors. People who have hereditary predisposition to schizophrenia and use cannabis are particularly at risk of developing mental illness during adolescence.
PTSP makes its way
Zach Walsh spends a lot of time exploring the links between cannabis use, mental health, and addiction. As an associate professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, he oversees the research laboratory in which he is researching cannabis for medical and "recreational" purposes.
Walsh says that the only way to really find out whether mental illness is caused by cannabis use, or vice versa, is to watch people from an early age. This is because most people start taking cannabis at about the same time they experience the first symptoms of mental illness - in the mid to late adolescence.
Walsh says the biggest More evidence of its laboratory, which confirms the efficacy of cannabis, can be found among patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
"Lets say you started smoking at 14 and at 18 you were diagnosed with depression. Its hard to tell if you felt a little depressed and tried to fight off cannabis smoking," he says.
MedicalStudies can help reveal whether people who suffer from mental illness do better when using cannabis or not. But still, researchers are still far from understanding all contexts.
Welsh points outthe cannabis stigma, which is still illegal in most countries, and how this stigma destroys a potential view of cannabis as a real cure. Because cannabis is labeled as an illegal substance, it is often associated with crime, not with relief from disease symptoms. And it will take some time for this to change.
"I think it would be cannabis"All drugs have their risks and benefits. But hemp still has a stigma. We are much less critical of drugs that are manufactured by the pharmaceutical industry. "
Welsh says the biggestevidence of his laboratory confirming the efficacy of cannabis can be found among patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Specifically, it is a reduction of nightmares. This is especially true for the Canadian War Veterans Department (VAC) and the Ministry of National Defense (DND), which also re-assess existing research on cannabis use for medical purposes.ely. VAC covers some veterans who suffer from PTSP costs of medical cannabis (maximum 3 grams per day).
V prothe report for Leafly VAT was written. "As we know its still just an emerging practice and a field of study, we want to assure you that the specific direction in which we work with DND will only have the best impact on strengthening the evidence of positive cannabis health effects."
"All drugs haverisks and benefits. But hemp still has a stigma. We are much less critical of drugs that are manufactured by the pharmaceutical industry. " -researcher Zach Walsh
Walsh thinks that future studies will focus more on anxiety disorders, which are often treated with pharmaceuticals such as Valium and Ativan.
"Its importantthey also have side effects to look at these drugs, "he says." They can lead to tolerance and withdrawal symptoms. "
If you pacAn ient suffering from mental illness or anxiety decides to treat cannabis, Walsh stresses the importance of introspection. It is similar to antidepressants, you need to find the right kind and quantity. The trial-and-error method can take several months, but the best results can be achieved by tracking how the individual species and doses work. Thus, the patient will find out better what is effective for him and what is not.
"Adult people should have a choice,"continues. "Even though the harmful effects of cannabis would bemany times, no benefits. I think an adult should choose whether he wants to be treated with cannabis or not.
The results speak for themselves
Alexandra Charendoff, a Toronto resident, agrees, although she is regularly discouraged by cannabis use. Having been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, anxiety disorder, and agoraphobia, Charendoff found that cannabis was the most effective way to relieve anxiety that paralyzed her when she decided to go out.
"It was almost instantaneous, "he says." When I smoke cannabis, I can finally work. Its the thing that helped me. When I take Ativan, I just want to lie down and sleep. "
When this mshe suggested to her doctor, "it was obvious that he had already done this conversation many times," but he was not willing to go on a cannabis journey. She wasnt too surprised. Every time she had an episode and came to the emergency room, the doctors definitely discouraged her from taking cannabis, but never had any data to support her claim. Charendoff felt that their approach was too one-sided.
"They say its not goodidea, but they give you no room for discussion, ”says Charendoff.
It is likely that once cannabis is legalized in Canada, more research will be developed and there will be much more evidence of its effectiveness in treating mental illness. In the meantime, doctors will still be able to postpone the question of cannabis effectiveness in the background. Pbut if they don't have answers, it is very likely that patients like Lee and Charendoff will begin to explore their options themselves.
"I don't think cannabis can cure my mental illness," Charendoff says. "But it helps me."
Source:
Lion, Elianna. "Cannabis and Mental Health: It's Complicated." Leafly, 12 Oct. 2018