PITTSBURGH, Nov. 2 – Teens and young adults who have a history of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are at higher risk for cannabis use disorders (CUD) including cannabis dependence and cannabis abuse, according to a study by University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers published in a recent issue of Addictive Behaviors.
photo source: http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/marijuana-leaf.jpg
While previous research shows that adults with PTSD were three times more likely to have cannabis dependence compared to those without PTSD, little was known about how teens and young adults are affected until now.
“These findings demonstrate that major adverse life events, such as those seen in persons with PTSD, can contribute to the development of CUD among teenagers and young adults,” said Jack R. Cornelius, M.D., M.P.H., professor of psychiatry and pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Researchers examined 693 people over a period of 10 years, 31 of which were diagnosed with PTSD and 161 diagnosed with CUD. The CUD subjects included 136 male and 25 female participants. The average age of onset of the CUD was 16.7 years.
Further analyses showed that PTSD is directly associated with the presence of CUD and with having deviant friends, such as those involved in illegal activities. “These findings suggest PTSD contributes to the development of CUD among teenagers, and therefore it is important to adequately assess for PTSD among young people at risk for CUD,” added Dr. Cornelius.
Comments
Other studies show exactly the opposite. Cannabis actually helps people with PTSD. There is another side to your story that is actually more important than the one which you have covered. Many people are in pain and suffering because medical marijuana has not been legalized in Pennsylvania. Support HB 1393.
I'm all for Medicinal Marijuana, but the article really wasn't pro/con marijuana for treatment. It just said that that teens with PTSD had a higher rate of CUD than non-PTSD kids.
So what's the other side of the story?
Wich was a lie... read the article.... 31 out 693 with ptsd.... That equals more lies and a writer who appearently doesn't do ANY research into the subject he's writing about!
To "Sick of Hippies:" the study was really only geared towards identifying the pattern between PTSD and CUD. What you're asking about is the domain of another study. To Dev Meyers/National Cannabis Revolution Examiner: I think there's a question of what the goal is with treatment. Cognitive-behavioral therapy also helps with PTSD independent of the use of marijuana. (I can provide clinical data to support that if you'd like.) I don't dispute that THC will lessen a patient's physiological reactions to PTSD. I'm simply saying the utility of such a drug - any drug - has to be carefully thought out before it's used.
Did it ever occur to them that maybe cannabis, a plant used medicinally for thousands of years, might be helping these people cope with their PTSD. I know a number of Vietnam Vets who say the marijuana helps them tremendously with PTSD.
So why look at it as a disorder (CUD) when in fact it is a therapy. Get real. Even the UK drug czar and top UK scientist agree that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol and tobacco, so stop with this drug war propaganda. People know better and won't believe these lies anymore.
I think WAR is the actual cause of PTSD. How about we stop the propaganda on pot and end the war. Who wrote this?
Since medicinal cannabis is only legal in 13 states so far any PTSD sufferer who looks for relief through cannabis must find it outside of legal means.
If there is no way to procure it legally then of course people who provide it will be guilty of being "involved in illegal activities"
CUD? Who coined that term? How absolutely silly it is, Cannabis use Disorder?!?!?!? Who comes up with this crap?
Trying to provide answers to this spirited discussion: "cannabis use d/o" is a legit diagnosis psych professionals can give a person. Specific criteria have to be met for the diagnosis to be applied. "WAR" is far from the only cause of PTSD. It can come from sexual abuse, domestic violence, street crime, etc., etc. To Skip Stone: as I said elsewhere, I don't dispute that marijuana can help with the physiological response to PTSD. But so can certain types of talk therapy, specifically cognitive-behavioral therapy. If an individual decides they would like to bypass therapy in favor of marijuana use, so be it. But it's important for that person to know all their options. Cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches techniques that can potentially be used so someone can become free of the need for treatment. Chronic marijuana use may lessen symptoms but creates an ongoing need for the drug. A patient needs to know all the options available to them, along with their pros/cons.
someone spent a lot of money in college for nothing... more lies from within the medical field
An addendum to my other comments where I mentioned cognitive-behavioral therapy: earlier posts on my blog get into brief descriptions of what the therapy is all about. If my mention of it here sparks any curiosity, check out the earlier listings for more information.
I know a lot of vietnam vets who say alchohol helps with their PTSD too, that doesn't mean it's a good treatment.
Same goes for medical doses, applying a permanent band-aid is not the solution. If you live in a state with medical marijuana you probably know a lot of people who are in the program, but do you know anyone who has gotten better and stopped taking it?
Pot's healthier than alchohol or cigarettes, sure. But it's still addictive and unhealthy for society.
"So they manage to turn something good about the medical benefits of marijuana into something bad, simply because they make the erroneous assumption that marijuana itself is bad.
This is the mindset that must be changed! "
I can't believe intelligent people would buy this BS!
Stop the lies and start the revolution.... you cannot regulate morality!!!!
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