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The link between cannabis smoking and mental health problems.

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daffy654 | 13:16 Wed 29th Jul 2009 | Body & Soul
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We have probably all seen and heard the reports of the link between the smoking of cannabis and mental illness.
I have always been of the opinion that there is very likely a link but mainly in people who were already 'predisposed' to suffer mental health problems anyway.
I tried smoking the stuff a few times in my teens but had a really strange reaction to it...it made me violent due to paranoia,so I have never touched it since.lol

I do know many people that smoke it regularly,only one of them has any mental health problems and they are quite severe.This young man is now in a crisis situation and I spent all of last night talking him out of committing suicide. He suffered a brain injury as a child after falling off the back of a moving transit van at speed,he was brought up by an alcoholic,wife-beating father and has mild learning difficulties,so the chances are he would have been depressed from all of that anyway.

What do other ABers think about this subject?
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Your friend must be a very strong lady Ice.Maiden :)
It is nice to know that you don't judge her for her children having different fathers and her upbringing.You would be amazed how the stigma of being brought up in a kids home can follow you for many years,well into adulthood.People just assume you were in the homes because you were uncontrollable or a juvenile delinquent etc.
Many people don't 'survive' the experience,those that do tend to be life's born survivors. :)
As a relative of a recovering heroin addict, I've been attending a group that helps friends & relatives of drug users.
Over the years that this group has been in service, the amount of people that have been attending whose relatives have been using cannabis has nearly quadrupled!
The users have all suffered from cannabis psychosis, & depression.
All have smoked skunk!
Most of them have been violent towards their family & friends.
Some of the users have ended up in mental hospitals.
3 have comitted suicide.
Skunk is a very powerful drug, & should be used with caution.
cannabis is still only the 11th most dangerous drug, when taking into account
* Physical harm to the user
* Addictive potential of the drug
* The drug's overall impact on society
behind alcohol @ 5th worst
and tobacco @ 9th worst
well..i'm gonna have a few spliffs tonight,but i will offset any downers by doing a few lines of coke tomorrow night...always helps to have a balanced diet i say!
will keep you all abreast of any adverse effects! lol :0)
I never judge anyone by their backgrounds daffy. How can a person help what happens to them when they're too young to take care of themselves, or what they're born into?
My friend's a very strong woman, and she just sat down one day and decided that enough was enough. She didn't want her children seeing her in a "state" or being unhappy.
I won't say it's been easy for her, but she now has a lovely partner, who works hard and helps to support her and the children whilst she's studying. x
as long as it is diet coke gonzo
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LOL@ Gonzo00 :)

Ice.Maiden,you don't seem like the type to judge people on their upbringing,many people do though and it is not something you can hide easily.
Looks like you've struck a chord with a lot of folk daffy654. I smoked a hell of a lot in my 20's. After 8 or 9 years it became just another habit and I started to enjoy it less. Unconciously (or maybe not?), I started hanging out with people who didn't smoke and found myself smoking less and less until I stopped completely and didn't give it a second thought. I'm now about to turn 40 and my mental health is pretty poor. On anti-depressants and have real difficulty handling everyday life; work, relationships, self-confidence, judgement, perception, sleep patterns, mental and physical energy and so on. I think the key point's already been made: it affects different people in different ways. My personal view is that it did indeed contribute to my current mental state. Who knows for sure?
having worked in adolescent psychiatry yes there is a link between cannabis use and mental illness particularly paranoia. Its hard to state that it is only in those predisposed to mental illness, as often those who smoke or use drugs do do to mask underlying issues anyways. Therefore mental health issues could exist prioir to use but become more pronounced on use.

I am very anti drugs and have the believe that those who feel th need to use drugs to cope with or enjoy life have already got underlying issues anyway as they choose drugs to deal with their difficulties.
I think you've made some good points there pink, although, a lot of youngsters try these things because a) their friends might be doing it and it looks "cool", and b) because it might just seem like a good idea - particularly after a drink as well.
I'm also anti-drugs. If your life's generally happy and fulfilled, you don't need thtem anyway,
I think you've made some good points there pink, although, a lot of youngsters try these things because a) their friends might be doing it and it looks "cool", and b) because it might just seem like a good idea - particularly after a drink as well.
I'm also anti-drugs. If your life's generally happy and fulfilled, you don't need them anyway, but some people seem to have the need to "fit in" by taking "recreational drugs", which can bring them a temporary feeling of pleasure and confidence.
Double entr�e ice you sure your not taking anything LOL !!!!
Stupid editing thing! LOL! Sorry all.
Nah...it must be the mushrooms I had for tea!
Gee I'll havevsome of them. Where did you get them!!!!
They grow in profusion on my lawn pink!!
-- answer removed --
I have smoked both types of dope. Resin in the 60's & 70's, & when I split-up from my ex in the 90's.
I tried skunk about 5 yrs ago, & from my experience I wont be touching it again...I was violently sick, I was staggering all over the place & the effects lasted about 2 days.
I can equate smoking resin to drinking 3 or 4 pints of beer. Where as smoking skunk to drinking a bottle of vodka.

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