Friday, March 15, 2024

Can Laced Weed Cause Schizophrenia

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Does Marijuana Cause Schizophrenia?

Although the exact nature of the marijuana-schizophrenia link is still murky, doctors know enough to offer some guidelines:

  • Itâs wise for teens to avoid marijuana or delay using it until they are adults.
  • If you have schizophrenia, donât use marijuana.
  • If you have a family history of schizophrenia or other psychotic illness, avoid marijuana.
  • If you are a caregiver for someone who has schizophrenia and uses marijuana, encourage them to quit.

How Long Do Psychosis Symptoms Last

According to a report from the National Institute on Drug Abuse , cannabis use, especially in high doses, can cause a short-lived psychotic reaction in people without schizophrenia. As the drug wears off, the symptoms fade.

Symptoms such as paranoia, anxiety, or psychosis may be present during the initial stage of intoxication. Impaired coordination and learning and sleep problems are among the effects that can last longer but may not be permanent.

Repeated use of cannabis can have cumulative effects that can cause long-term symptoms.

Doctors may diagnose cannabis intoxication when recent cannabis use has led to significant changes in a persons behavior or mind. Cannabis intoxication can occur within minutes if a person inhales the drug, but it takes hours to appear following ingestion.

The duration of symptoms can depend on a persons tolerance and the dose they take. Although they typically last for 34 hours, they can persist for up to 24 hours.

Many people who present to the emergency department with psychotic symptoms relating to cannabis use will need hospitalization. Up to 50% of these individuals will develop schizophrenia.

Psychosis usually develops over time, with a person experiencing gradual changes in their thoughts and perceptions. They may be unaware of these changes.

Pre-psychosis symptoms are early warning signs of psychosis. They include:

Beat Marijuana Addiction With Harmony Ridge

If you or a loved one is actively struggling with marijuana addiction, know that there are treatment options available for you. It begins when you pick up the phone and ask for help. Our unique approach to addiction treatment here at Harmony Ridge is certain to assist you in beating your marijuana addiction.

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Lowering Your Risks When Consuming Cannabis

There are risks associated with cannabis use. The best way to protect your health is to avoid using cannabis or cannabis products completely.

Cannabis can be consumed in different ways. Two common ways are:

Each way carries different health and safety risks.

Everyone’s response to cannabis is different, depending on:

  • experience with cannabis, frequency of use
  • consumption of food, alcohol, other drugs or health products

Everyone’s response to cannabis can also differ from one time to the next.

Research suggests that there are ways to reduce the risks:

  • Use it in a safe and familiar environment and with people you trust, especially if you are inexperienced or a new user.
  • Delay cannabis use until the brain is fully developed. This occurs around the age of 25.
  • The earlier you begin using cannabis, the higher your risk of serious health issues, including dependence and other mental health problems.
  • Choose a product with equal or higher amounts of CBD than THC.
  • The higher the THC content of a product, the more likely you are to experience adverse effects and greater levels of impairment. CBD is known to reduce some of the effects of THC.
  • If you smoke cannabis, avoid inhaling deeply or holding your breath.
  • Limit and reduce how often you use.
  • Frequent use of cannabis over a long time can contribute to mental health problems. These include dependence, anxiety and depression.
  • Avoid mixing cannabis and other substances, like alcohol or drugs.
  • problematic substance use
  • Get Help For Your Marijuana Addiction

    Marijuana Wine is Now a Thing...

    Were not making light of smoking marijuana, nor advocating safe marijuana use. Theres no such thing. The marijuana on the street today is many times stronger and more addictive than marijuana in the past. Some experts even want to classify it as a new and different drug because its so powerful.

    Any use of illegal drugs or abuse of legal, prescription, and over-the-counter medications can be fatal. Drugs not only mess up your body, but they mess up your life. A casual marijuana habit can turn into a serious habit, addiction or multiple addictions over time.

    At 12 Keys, we can help you with a marijuana addiction, chemical dependency, and even mental health challenges. Our structured yet flexible setting helps people recover from addiction.

    12 Keys offers traditional recovery programs mixed with experiential activities that help people recover from their addiction. Individual and group therapy helps clients discover some of the underlying causes of their addiction, while 12-step meetings help people embrace the spiritual awakening necessary for sobriety.

    Our comfortable facility, low client-to-staff ratio, and compassionate staff can help you recover and claim your life once again. If youre tired of struggling with drug addiction, marijuana addiction and more, give us a call. We understand how you feel and are here to answer any questions you may have.

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    How To Detoxfrom Laced Pot

    Smoking weed laced with other substances, either by accident or intentionally, is dangerous, so its important to seek medical attention.

    • Its imperative not to panic, which might be almost impossible if youve just smoked two or more euphoric drugs. If you have someone around, thats excellent. This is not to say that your friend will protect you from the side effects of tainted marijuana, but they can take you to the ER at least.
    • After trying pot laced with fentanyl or other drugs, try to make yourself comfortable and engage in a calming and relaxing activity.
    • If you feel like vomiting, let it out. Your body knows there is an excess of toxins, so let it do its job.

    How To Tell If Marijuana Is Laced

    Aside from fry smokers, who know that what theyre buying is laced, some dealers wont say when marijuana is laced. Others get marijuana from friends who may not know if the drug is laced or not. To protect yourself, you need to know what to look for to tell if marijuana is laced.

    • Smell it: Fresh marijuana smells green, like plants, grass or leaves. If it smells harsh, like gasoline, nail polish remover or other chemicals, it may have been laced.
    • Look at it: Look for blue or white crystals. These are signs that marijuana may have been laced. Brown crystals can be natural to certain types of marijuana, but blue or white can indicate that other drugs have been added to it.
    • Test it: The only way to really know for sure whether your marijuana is laced or not is to buy a drug testing kit. Kits can test for cocaine and meth, but not for other drugs, so just be aware that they cant catch everything.

    If youre ever in any doubt about marijuana, throw it out. Its better to be safe than to be sorry. Trust your instincts. Theyre usually right. If you think youve got a bad batch of laced weed, dont take chances. Get rid of it.

    You may even consider giving up marijuana for good. Marijuana is dangerous. Its highly addictive and often a gateway into taking harder drugs. Once you get used to smoking marijuana, its easy to dabble in other drugs, and you could eventually become addicted. The transformation from recreational drug user to a serious addict is faster than you may think.

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    How Do Drugs Cause Or Affect Schizophrenia

    Schizophrenia is a complex disorder that affects many parts of the brain. Many neurotransmitters play a role in its development.

    Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit messages between cells. They help regulate mood, emotions and behavior.

    Neurotransmitter systems include dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine and gamma-aminobutyric acid .

    Dopamine plays an important role in regulating movement, motivation and pleasure. Dopamine levels are low in people with schizophrenia.

    Serotonin regulates sleep, appetite, mood, sexual desire and pain sensitivity. Serotonin levels are also lower in people with schizophrenia.

    Norepinephrine helps control blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. Lower levels of norepinephrine have been associated with schizophrenia.

    Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid is involved in controlling seizures, anxiety and sleep patterns. GABA levels are also lower in schizophrenic patients.

    When people use drugs, they impact the balance of these chemicals in the brain which can cause misfiring or incorrect communication between the neurotransmitters.

    Things like dopamine can become overwhelming in the brain creating things like confusion or delusions.

    As a result, mental health conditions can occur and one of these is indeed schizophrenia.

    How Can Consuming Laced Weed Negatively Affect A Person

    Joe Rogan – Can Drugs Cause Schizophrenia?

    Consuming laced weed can negatively affect individuals in various ways. When you add stimulants to marijuana, it typically results in stimulating effects. Depressants being added to marijuana will generate significant feelings of lethargy and sedation.

    Hallucinogenic drugs being added to marijuana will generate delusions and hallucinations. Aside from these specific substance effects, there are some overall general side effects that a person who is consuming laced weed will likely experience.

    The general effects include:

    • Experiencing uncharacteristic decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, signs of illness, insomnia, jitteriness, irritability, and nervousness
    • Using marijuana and undergoing no psychoactive effects whatsoever as a result of significant added inert plant materials
    • Experiencing psychotic effects such as delusions, hallucinations, and marked disorientation or confusion
    • Noticing significant changes in blood pressure and heart rate
    • Experiencing difficulty with dizziness, breathing, lightheadedness, or beginning to feel like things arent real

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    Does Marijuana Cause Schizophrenia

    Editorial Policy | Research Policy

    Because of how commonly marijuana is used, the reduction in stigma associated with it, and the increasingly legal status of the substance, people tend to be lulled into a false sense of comfort with this substance.

    In general, compared to many other drugs, marijuana tends to have fewer adverse side effects and outcomes, but this doesnt mean its entirely safe. Some people may be at risk of developing serious side effects resulting from their use of marijuana.

    One area of concern is marijuana and schizophrenia. People wonder if there are links between marijuana and schizophrenia, so whats the truth? Does marijuana cause schizophrenia?

    Learn About Synthetic Marijuana And Substance Abuse

    Made up of man-made chemicals intended to mirror the effects of marijuana, synthetic marijuana is a newer drug that is proving to be one of the most dangerous substances abused today. Also known as K2, Potpourri, or Spice, synthetic marijuana is a drug that can be smoked, inhaled, or injected by users. Producing a high that causes an elevated mood, feelings of relaxation, and altered perceptions of reality for up to a few hours, K2 was originally marketed as a safe alternative to marijuana, as that drug is known to produce similar effects. However, synthetic marijuana is also known to cause unpleasant psychosis and a number of other harmful effects that can occur even after one use.

    Many users of this substance have lost their lives due to the sudden onset of health complications brought on by synthetic marijuana. Because of this, it is often imperative to seek treatment if it is suspected that a person is using or abusing K2. Effective mental health care that can treat a substance abuse problem of this kind is available and should be sought in order to reduce or eliminate the risks associated with this life-threatening drug.

    Statistics

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    Does Marijuana Use Cause Schizophrenia

    As the drug becomes more popular, concerns have been raised that its use can lead to psychotic disorders. Heres what scientists know for sure, and what they dont.

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    By Benedict Carey

    Nearly a century after the film Reefer Madness alarmed the nation, some policymakers and doctors are again becoming concerned about the dangers of marijuana, although the reefers are long gone.

    Experts now distinguish between the new cannabis legal, highly potent, available in tabs, edibles and vapes and the old version, a far milder weed passed around in joints. Levels of T.H.C., the chemical that produces marijuanas high, have been rising for at least three decades, and its now possible in some states to buy vape cartridges containing little but the active ingredient.

    The concern is focused largely on the link between heavy usage and psychosis in young people. Doctors first suspected a link some 70 years ago, and the evidence has only accumulated since then. In a forthcoming book, Tell Your Children, Alex Berenson, a former Times reporter, argues that legalization is putting a generation at higher risk of schizophrenia and other psychotic syndromes. Critics, including leading researchers, have called the argument overblown, and unfaithful to the science.

    How Do We End Fentanyl

    daniellandry2020

    Officials in Vermont and Connecticut issued statements and warnings to let people know marijuana laced with fentanyl is causing overdoses in their regions. They are also looking to Narcan to help prevent deaths.

    Naloxone, or Narcan, is a medication used for treating overdoses. The drug counteracts the effects of opioids to prevent fatalities. It is used regularly by first responders and is available for at-home use as well.

    Dr. Traci Green, professor and director of the Opioid Policy Research Collective at Brandeis University, said naloxone is key to helping prevent fentanyl overdose deaths.

    She noted, Thankfully, fentanyl responds really well to naloxone, or Narcan. That means that if Narcan is available and in the hands of people at that party, or at the housing structure or wherever, wed have more opportunities for a quicker response.

    And what if Narcan isnt available? Without something to counteract the effects of fentanyl, it can be lethal.

    Connecticut officials are warning people to watch for the symptoms of opioid overdose. Boxborough Police Chief Warren Ryder said, It is important to remain vigilant and know the signs of an overdose, as they can have life-threatening effects. Fentanyl is a serious drug that should only be consumed in a safe medical setting authorized by a medical professional.

    Symptoms of opioid overdose include:

    • Slow and shallow breathing
    • Drowsiness or loss of consciousness

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    Can Marijuana Help Treat Psychosis

    The suggestion that the same substance that triggers psychotic symptoms could also help treat the mental condition seems redundant. However, a study by the Kings College London found that one of the major chemical compounds in the marijuana plant, cannabidiol , works in opposition of the plants other ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol . While THC is what causes someone to get high after marijuana use and is a significant risk factor for marijuana psychosis and other mental health disorders, CBD reportedly reduced abnormal brain activity in people with psychotic symptoms.

    Researchers are conducting more studies using CBD oil with the hopes of using it as a form of psychosis treatment. Another promising characteristic of CBD is that its not psychoactive and is not known to cause dependence or addiction. In the United States, CBD oil is licensed for treating rare epilepsy cases in children.

    Synthetic Marijuana Addiction And Co

    Chronic substance users frequently suffer from mental illnesses in addition to grappling with the issues associated with drug or alcohol abuse. Oftentimes, people use or abuse drugs, like K2, as a means of coping with the distressing symptoms of a mental health condition. The listed mental health disorders are common among abusers of substances, such as synthetic marijuana:

    • Post-traumatic stress disorder

    Withdrawal and Overdose

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    Symptoms Of Marijuana Psychosis

    When people experience acute intoxication from marijuana symptoms can include feeling separated from reality and experiencing visual or auditory hallucinations and delusions. The short-term effects of marijuana will usually disappear a few hours after using the drug, but for some people, the delusions and psychotic symptoms may last for up to a week, month or year.

    In addition to hallucinations and delusions, symptoms that may accompany psychosis include depression, sleep problems, and anxiety.

    Exploring Medical Cannabis Use

    Is There a Relationship Between Schizophrenia and Drug Use?

    Cannabis has been used as a medicine in many parts of the world for thousands of years. These days, many people in Canada want more evidence about what cannabis is effective in treating, and the best way to deliver that treatment.

    As it stands today, there is scientific evidence of the therapeutic benefits of cannabis for the following conditions: anti-spasm for multiple sclerosis, anti-convulsive for epilepsy, anti-nausea for chemotherapy, and appetite stimulant for people experiencing extreme weight loss. Recent research has shown cannabis is effective in managing pain.

    Although cannabis can impact mental health in certain circumstances, some people with a mental health problem use it to relieve the symptoms of their condition or the unpleasant side effects of their medication.

    When it comes to youth, research suggests that young people may be using cannabis for reasons that are similar to those of adults. Some studies suggest that youth experiencing mental health problems might be seeking relief through cannabis use. Mental health issues such as depression, insomnia and anxiety were reported as significant problems that interfered with their ability to function at school and with family and friends.

    THC and other compounds in cannabisnotably CBD or cannabidiolare being studied for their healing potential. Researchers believe that the ratio of THC to CBD is a crucial factor in how cannabis affects a person’s mind and body.

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    Getting Help For Polydrug Abuse

    Using multiple drugs can be very dangerous, especially if the user is unaware of some of the drugs being used. It can also make diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders and potential comorbid mental illnesses more complex.

    If you are struggling with marijuana use, especially if you use other substances as well, you should contact a health care professional. You may be suffering from one or multiple substance use disorders. There are effective treatments that can help individuals struggling with substance use disorders learn how to manage their illnesses and avoid relapse.

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