- LONDON - Teens and young
adults who frequently use marijuana are at higher risk of developing psychotic
symptoms later in life, researchers say.
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- Dutch scientists studied 2,437 young people aged 14-24
to identify their predisposition to psychosis. Participants were questioned
about their use of cannabis and followed for up to four years.
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- In the study, researchers used a broad definition of
psychosis, ranging from occasionally hearing voices and paranoia to schizophrenia.
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- Jim van Os of the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands
and his team found 21 per cent of cannabis users had experienced psychotic
symptoms compared with 15 per cent among non-users.
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- The odds of experiencing symptoms were also higher among
those who frequently smoked marijuana, after adjusting for other factors,
such as social and economic status, use of other drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
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- In the past, it has been difficult for scientists to
figure out if cannabis triggers the psychotic symptoms or whether those
with mental health problems are more likely to use the drug.
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- Researchers on van Os's team found that the risk of developing
symptoms was about four times higher in young people with a pre-existing
susceptibility to mental instability.
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- The study appears in this week's issue of BMJ Online
First.
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- Copyright © CBC 2004
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- http://www.cbc.ca/story/science/national/2004/12/02/pot-psychosis041202.html
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