There is no denying that cannabis smoking is as popular as ever. While most people can tolerate cannabis quite well, some experience quite drastic unpleasant effects. For example, some young people are experiencing psychotic symptoms when using cannabis. But why?
Researchers at the University of Queensland have found that many people that are experiencing psychotic symptoms when using cannabis have been a victim of childhood trauma.
Cannabis smoking is relaxing for some, but for others it may cause psychosis-like symptoms. Image credit: Chmee2 via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)
What happens in childhood has a huge effect on adult life. And you probably already knew that. However, the connection between cannabis and childhood trauma wasn’t defined yet. But scientists suspected that the reasons why some people experience psychotic symptoms when using cannabis might be related to childhood trauma. Not only did scientists find that childhood trauma increases the likelihood of psychotic symptoms after cannabis use, they also discovered that people who experienced more childhood trauma are more likely to abuse cannabis in a very harmful way.
While many people find cannabis relaxing, for some it causes psychotic symptoms as well as dysphoria, disassociation, paranoia. Scientists wanted to know why that happens and so they analysed responses from 2630 young people about their use of the drug, history of childhood trauma, psychotic-like experiences and other subjective effects. They found that harmful experiences during cannabis use and abuse of these recreational drugs can often be traced back to childhood trauma. Scientists also launched a new web-based treatment for cannabis use and psychotic experiences in young people aged 16-25, hoping to reduce risks in young people.
These psychosis-like symptoms that some people experience while using cannabis are not just unpleasant – they are carrying quite a bit of risk. Professor Leanne Hides, leader of the trial, said: “Psychotic experiences can include symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations, which increase the risk of substance use, depressive or anxiety disorders and psychotic disorders”.
Recreational use of cannabis is becoming legal in more and more countries around the world. Stigma associated with cannabis is long gone and we need to accept the fact that many young people will make a choice to use cannabis. We need to understand the risks associated with that and protect people from potentially harmful effects. Or at least inform them about the possibility of psychosis-like symptoms and what they can lead to.
Source: University of Queensland