Pubdate: Wed, 30 Oct 2013
Source: Cowichan Valley Citizen (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Cowichan Valley Citizen
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/cowichanvalleycitizen/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4349
Author: Ernie Gorrie

CANNABIS NOT CAUSING PSYCHOSIS IN TEENS

Cowichan Bay - As a former clinical supervisor in a major youth 
forensic psychiatric facility, I appreciated the intent of Karen 
Sargent's letter on the issue of youth, mental health and cannabis. I 
believe however that more information would change her views and 
those of others regarding the Sensible BC initiative.

Sensible BC's initiative would do nothing to change the application 
of cannabis laws with regard to youth. It seeks only to modify the 
application of the criminal law on adults. Cannabis, like alcohol, 
would remain a prohibited substance for youth.

Ms. Sargent expresses the opinion that "teens often have psychotic 
episodes from smoking pot". This is simply incorrect. The incidence 
of psychosis among youth is very low and the incidence of cannabis 
use among youth is very high. Lifetime prevalence of use in Grade 12 
students in the USA was 49 per cent in 2007 (Eaton et al., 2008), 
while in 2008 over 15 per cent of 12th graders reported using 
cannabis daily for at least a month at some point in their lives 
(Johnston et al., 2009). Diagnostic uncertainty is high in this 
population, yet despite the high cannabis usage, the incidence of 
schizophrenia is only one per 500-10,000 in mid-adolescents (Gearing 
R.E., 2008). Teens do not often develop psychosis, whether they are 
in the 50 per cent that have used cannabis or the 50 per cent who have not.

Perhaps more important is the question of whether cannabis causes 
mental disorder or is a sign of mental disorder. In our work in youth 
forensic psychiatric services, it was apparent that youth who had 
untreated mental disorders would seek out their own "treatment" 
including use of mood altering substances such as alcohol, tobacco, 
cannabis, and unauthorized prescription drugs. These substances were 
not causing the mental disorders; they were responses to a disorder.

No doubt excessive, prolonged consumption of cannabis, alcohol, 
prescription medications or other mood altering substances can have 
adverse effects. Excessive, prolonged consumption of high cholesterol 
foods, sugars, coffee, tea or other foods can also have adverse 
effects. Moderate use of any of these by responsible adults can 
enhance their lives and no adult should face criminal penalties for their use.

The Sensible BC initiative is not a threat to youth mental health. 
Youth drug laws would be unchanged. The initiative promotes 
responsible decision making by adults and the redirection of tax 
dollars away from creating damaging criminal records to health 
promotion and solving more important, truly criminal matters. These 
are goals all British Columbians should support.

Ernie Gorrie Cowichan Bay
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom