Cannabis 'affecting young minds' - BBC News

[grecian]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6162217.stm

Half of young people using cannabis suffer side effects such as paranoia and blackouts, a UK survey suggests.

More than 80% of the 727 young people in their teens and early 20s polled by YoungMinds had tried the drug - the vast majority before they were 18.

The charity is calling for urgent research on the effects of cannabis on the developing teenage brain.

It is releasing guidance for young people and professionals on the effects cannabis may have on mental health.

'Vulnerable brains'

Barbara Herts, YoungMinds chief executive, said: "Many young people are experimenting with cannabis from a young age.

"We are extremely concerned that there is still very little known about the effects of cannabis on the developing teenage brain and it is crucial that more studies are carried out in this area."

She said virtually all of the research on both short and longer-term cognitive effects has been conducted on adults.

This is a problem as the young, developing brain could be much more vulnerable to its effects, she explained.


Ms Herts said studies show young people who use cannabis regularly or heavily are at least twice as likely to develop a psychotic mental disorder by young adulthood than those who do not smoke.

Psychosis is a type of mental health problem, which includes conditions like schizophrenia, that can seriously affect the way you think, feel and behave.

She said: "Young people, their parents and the professionals working with them need to understand the issues surrounding cannabis use and the potential dangers to their mental health and wellbeing."


Drug helpline Frank recently launched a TV ad warning young people of the damage cannabis can do to the brain as part of its drugs awareness campaign.

A spokesman said they were particularly targeting 11- to 17-year-olds.

Martin Barnes, chief executive of DrugScope, said: "Although cannabis use has been falling among young people over recent years, and is now at its lowest level for nearly a decade, we cannot be complacent.

"There is evidence that cannabis not only worsens existing mental health problems but may trigger - although the risk is thought to be small - some conditions such as schizophrenia.

"We support calls for more research into the possible long-term effects particularly of drug use among children and young people."

Reputation Comments on this post:

Very good thread, found it to be very interesting

[Solidly-here]

So, Grecian, what's your point?

And, why did you Post this in THIS Forum?

[grecian]

Originally Posted by Solidly-here

So, Grecian, what's your point?

And, why did you Post this in THIS Forum?

I was under the impression that news articles are meant to go in the forum for the particular substance that they concern.

This forum title is:

Cannabis using Smoking Marijuana and Hashish, health effects, medical marijuana, cooking with cannabis

Hence i post a news article regarding reported health effects of cannabis here.
I have to say I wasn't really making a point and I apologise if thats a problem, I was merely posting an article that I thought other members might be interested to read and possibly discuss.

[Nature Boy]

It's not Grecian's point, it's some hack journalists' point. Maybe it's not in the right forum though. Anyway, the entire article doesn't draw any real conclusions. Yes, younger people are at a higher risk to the very minimal possibility of developing mental problems through cannabis use but the remedy for this would be to regulate cannabis sales legally, impose an age restriction - say 18 or 21, and lessen young peoples' access to cannabis. Of course that solution is way too difficult for some dumbasses to comprehend.

[Trebor]

For fucks sake, Siwm was smoking from 15 onwaqrds. And he was recently given an oppurtunity to address a meeting of economists! (He won't 'cuase that would involve wearing a suit). Smoking weed at a young age has no more a detrimental effect5 on the brain then it would if the smoker was 40. Anyway, so what if kids are smoking weed, in Ireland kids as young as 2 were given whiskey and poteen for toothaches!

[Solidly-here]

Grecian claims: "I have to say I wasn't really making a point ... I was merely posting an article that I thought other members might be interested to read and possibly discuss."

You are NOT making a point?

Does this mean that you Posted this crap because Pot smokers would find it interesting?

The FACT that you Posted it, makes a point.
Then, as we read it, we wonder WHY you took the time to Post it.
Then, when we're done, we (still) wonder why you took the time to Post it.

Truly, the reason a person Posts in "Cannabis Using" is for people who smoke Cannabis to read.
This sorry story can't do much but upset Cannabis Users.

So, again, I ask you: What is your point in Posting this story?
Maybe you can come up with a better story than, "I thought other members might be interested to read ..."

[grecian]

Your asking questions that I have already answered, I have neither the time nor the inclination to make up stories.


I have seen discussions on drugs-forum about the possibility of negative effects of drugs (not just cannabis) on adolescents, now I am aware the mainstream media have no authority on this subject but I doubt I am alone in being interested as to how they spin 'it'. Trebor thinks it is bull shit, I'm with nature boy in thinking that there is some truth to it, can you see the potential for discussion now?

Originally Posted by Solidly-here

Then, as we read it, we wonder WHY you took the time to Post it.
Then, when we're done, we (still) wonder why you took the time to Post it.

Who is this 'we' you are referring to?

[Solidly-here]

Grecian says: "can you see the potential for discussion now?"

At least NOW you have said something. When you Posted, you said nothing.
One way to drum-up discussion is: Say something, about your quote.
You didn't do that. So I was left with a question: Why did he/she Post that?

Then you claim that you wanted to stir up some discussion.
But you still did not give any opinion about it.

Finally, you say something which could be interpreted as to why you Posted this turkey: "I doubt I am alone in being interested as to how they spin 'it'."

Well, good for you.

I STILL think that this is in the wrong Forum.

So, next time you Post a news article, why don't you actually SAY something? Hmm?

[grecian]

And what forum would you have posted it in?

Next time you look at the drugs news forum you might notice that alot of news stories are posted without comment by the poster, i doubt that flaming everyone who posts a news story without commenting on it would be appreciated. To be honest I'm dissapointed that a Gold Member has reacted in such a way, a PM would have sufficed.

Your opinion is that this article is a turkey (well it is christmas) but that is your opinion. There are plenty of news stories that don't interest me (for example Mr Bloggs being busted for growing weed etc.) but I accept that others may be interested so I say nothing. I suggest in future you might consider doing the same.