Meta-analysis shows that marijuana use is possibly linked with earlier onset of psychosis.

originalpckelly

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Mon Feb-07-11 07:22 PM
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Meta-analysis shows that marijuana use is possibly linked with earlier onset of psychosis.

Edited on Mon Feb-07-11 07:27 PM by originalpckelly

Let me qualify the following study. I do this because I know some people have set conclusions in their mind one way or the other about marijuana. The following is not intended to form a diagnosis or medical advice, it is standard scientific method.

This is not just a regular study. It's a meta-analysis of many different studies, though from the article we do not gain insight into their various methodologies. In this case, if their methodologies are not somehow flawed, this meta-analysis may demonstrate a duplication of a conclusion across many different studies. Duplication is important in science because it shows that there is really something there. As long as there isn't some type of consistent flaw in the methodology of the study, that would across studies influence the conclusions of it, it means you should probably take note of it.

This does not apply to the general population, but among a specific population of individuals with schizophrenia. It does not appear to mention other chronic mental illnesses where psychosis may be present such as bipolar disorder with psychotic features, schizoaffective disorder, or major depression with psychotic features, among other psychotic illnesses. I think the articles' implication that all psychosis is somehow related to schizophrenia is profoundly misinformed. So that's a mark against the article.

So, with that said, here is the article:
"Many studies have linked marijuana use with early onset of psychosis. The question is, does smoking marijuana cause earlier psychosis? A new review of 83 studies involving more than 22,000 participants seeks an answer.

The meta-analysis found that people who smoked marijuana developed psychotic disorders an average 2.7 years earlier than people who did not use cannabis. But the review also found that people who used any illegal drug suffered psychosis two years earlier than non-users, not a large difference.

While alcohol use was not associated with early onset, the studies reviewed could not rule out the influence of cigarette smoking, which is a common habit of people with psychotic disorders and those who smoke marijuana. In many of the countries from which the data was gathered, in fact, cannabis is typically smoked mixed with tobacco. The researchers argue that cigarette smoking�unlike marijuana� does not worsen hallucinations or paranoia in patients with schizophrenia, so they believe that tobacco does not account for earlier onset."

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/02/07/marijuana-linked-with-earlier-onset-of-schizophrenia-in-research-review/#ixzz1DJyKy9Sb

What this might mean, is that the argument that marijuana is somehow less dangerous than alcohol, is probably not accurate. Psychosis is quite serious, I know first hand. It can lead you to do all types of embarrassing things, and even in some unfortunate and tragic circumstances, can lead to law breaking or suicide. More than 40,000 people kill themselves every year, and while I don't know the breakdown of that number into psychosis related suicides, I bet there are enough to merit concern.

As a matter of public policy, we the people must be informed, so articles like these are helpful to us.

As a matter of common sense, it might be wise just to steer clear of marijuana if someone in your family has schizophrenia. The article goes further to state that people with any relative with a psychotic illness should steer clear too.

Is that really bad advice? Just common sense, really. You don't need to do pot to survive if you're not suffering in some way from cancer or chronic pain, or one of the other actual medicinal uses of marijuana.