How Dangerous Is Smoking Marijuana With Schizophrenia In A Relative?
I am 16 years old and am studying the effects of marijuana for personal knowledge, and have not been able to answer this question even with thorough research:
My uncle has schizophrenia. Is it dangerous for me to smoke weed?
There is sufficient evidence to show links between schizophrenia and marijuana use but are my chances of becoming schizophrenic from smoking marijuana substantially increased considering there is a case of it in my family?
You cannot become schizophrenic from smoking weed. If you are going to be schizophrenic however, then (it’s like a bad dormant seed, in my opinion) smoking can trigger it. So it can be bad for someone who does or will have it, but not for someone who does not have it in their brain at all.
However, if you smoke too much or do too much lsd, you can develop lasting (and sometimes permanent) symptoms that are similar to schizophrenia.
And, (since you can’t know whether or not you will develop schizophrenia), it could be more “dangerous” for you to smoke weed if you have a close relative with it. (Of course in the long run, it wouldn’t really make a difference) Sorry to ramble.
by A.V
on 09. Feb, 2010
“There is a legitimate and casual link between smoking marijuana and increased rates of psychosis and schizophrenia later in life, and a number of different and independent clinical studies have come to these same conclusions.
If you smoke as a teenager, you are between 2 and 3 times more likely to experience clinical psychosis disorders later in life, and the younger you start smoking, the greater your chance of developing a schizophrenic like disorder.
Secondly, those people who experience a marijuana induced psychotic reaction, (a temporary break with reality while high after smoking marijuana) have about a 50% chance of developing full blown schizophrenia within the following three years.
Marijuana causes 8% of all schizophrenia
The vast majority of smokers will not develop schizophrenia as a result of their use, but if we could somehow eliminate the use of the drug, we would see an almost 10% reduction in the prevalence rates of tragic and life changing schizophrenia.
Scientists working on these studies point to the widespread usage of the drug as a problem, and conclude that we as a society are very unlikely to eliminate the usage any time soon. They conclude that for the best public health effects, at risk youth need to be targeted and hopefully deterred from smoking it.”http://ezinearticles.com/?Smoking-Mariju…
“Two professors at London’s Institute of Psychiatry have conducted research on how heavy consumption of cannabis may affect brain functions, and have produced brain scans that aim to prove how the drug can cause psychosis and schizophrenia in a small percentage of the population that smoke
Professors Say Smoking Marijuana Can Cause Psychosis & Schizophrenia
marijuana regularly.”http://www.associatedcontent.com/article…
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There is a definite increased risk due to your family history. Schizophrenia has a genetic component and an environmental component. The environmental component typically triggers the disease. Environmentall components include high levels of stress, traumatic events, and drugs, including especially hallucinogens and marijuana. Your chances of having the genetic component are high because you share many of your uncle’s genes.
I have talked about this issue with experienced psychologists and one of them told me that habitually smoking marijuana will cause schizophrenia every single time if someone has the genetic predisposition.
Unless you are using for legitimate medical reasons (eg. cancer), there is absolutely no reason to ever smoke marijuana. It is not necessarily immoral, but the price you will pay in life (lower income, possible arrest and/or criminal record, cancer, ect) will outweigh any benefits you get or think you are getting by a factor of 1000.
by Sam D
on 09. Feb, 2010
Marijuana does not cause schizophrenia, if you have the potential to become or are already schizophrenic then using any kind of mind altering drug is dangerous. Marijuana can cause bad paranoia in certain people, but you should know yourself and your limits. If marijuana is having bad effects on your mind then stop smoking it.
by curious
on 10. Feb, 2010
my mom and some other people related to me have the slight schitzo gene.
a great symptom to look for is paranoia.
if you smoke weed and get not just paranoid, but a little more than average, then long term smoking gives you a bigger chance to get schitzo.
by Mr. Peter
on 10. Feb, 2010
0% danger levels detected
by __A_YAHO
on 10. Feb, 2010
isn’t marijuana cure for schizophrenia?
by Indubita
on 10. Feb, 2010