Feds: Teen use of pot can lead to dependency, mental illness

[BUDisMYbuddy]

By JENNIFER C. KERR, Associated Press Writer
Fri May 9, 7:00 AM ET


WASHINGTON - Depression, teens and marijuana are a dangerous mix that can lead to dependency, mental illness or suicidal thoughts, according to a White House report being released Friday.

A teen who has been depressed at some point in the past year is more than twice as likely to have used marijuana as teens who have not reported being depressed — 25 percent compared with 12 percent, said the report by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

"Marijuana is a more consequential substance of abuse than our culture has treated it in the last 20 years," said John Walters, director of the office. "This is not just youthful experimentation that they'll get over as we used to think in the past."

Smoking marijuana can lead to more serious problems, Walters said in an interview.

For example, using marijuana increases the risk of developing mental disorders by 40 percent, the report said. And teens who smoke pot at least once a month over a yearlong period are three times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than nonusers, it said.

The report also cited research that showed that teens who smoke marijuana when feeling depressed were more than twice as likely as their peers to abuse or become addicted to pot — 8 percent compared with 3 percent.

Experts who have worked with children say there's nothing harmless about marijuana.

"I've seen many, many kids' lives negatively impacted and taken off track because of marijuana," said Elizabeth Stanley-Salazar, director of adolescent services for Phoenix House treatment centers in California. "It's somewhat Russian roulette. There are so many factors, emotional, psychological, biological. You can't predict the experimentation and how it will impact a kid."

The drug control policy office analyzed about a dozen studies looking at marijuana use, including research by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Overall, marijuana use among teens has decreased 25 percent since 2001, down to about 2.3 million kids who used pot at least once a month, the drug control office said.

While the drop is encouraging, Walters appealed to parents to recognize signs of possible drug use and depression.

"It's not something you look the other way about when your teen starts appearing careless about their grooming, withdrawing from the family, losing interest in daily activities," Walters said. "Find out what's wrong."


Source: Feds: Teen use of pot can lead to dependency, mental illness - Yahoo! News
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Strongly disagree. When I started I was already depressed and to this day I no longer take medication for depression etc. I'm at the top of my game, thanks to Mary stablizing my mind!

[pacman]

Originally Posted by BUDisMYbuddy

The report also cited research that showed that teens who smoke marijuana when feeling depressed were more than twice as likely as their peers to abuse or become addicted to pot — 8 percent compared with 3 percent.

Abuse or become addicted to pot?

bullshit

[farmergiles]

Whilst there is a statistical link between depression and THC consumption there is no evidence that the aforsaid consumption causes depression. Feds talk shit again.

[Rubix]

shit im quittin today nigga

[farmergiles]

Quitting might make you depressed.

[Rubix]

/lights up a fatty

[Canuck Wisdom]

Playing off our fears, those heartless assholes are.

[OldMan&TheWeed]

Government: Smoking Cigarettes Cause Mental Health Disorders

Teens who smoke cigarettes are:

* Twice as likely to suffer from depression in the past year.
* More likely to experience hopelessness, depression and worthlessness.
* More likely to report panic attacks and general anxiety disorders.
* More likely to report post-traumatic stress disorder.

Teen Substance Abuse - Teen Cigarette Smoking Linked to Substance Abuse, Mental Illness







So why doesn't John Walters advocate banning cigarettes?

[Ziggy Fry]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Weed got me out of depression. Now that I use it, suicidal thoughts should be pretty common shouldn't they?

I've quit before too (when broke) and I did not become depressed.

I smell bullshit.

Sin.Ziggy.

[HCL]

The fine reefer has made me care about school, believe it or not. When my dad found out I was smoking, my grades went way up. I didn't have to hide anything and could finally do everything I did regularly, but while being high. Thank you, Mary Jane.

[farmergiles]

Originally Posted by Ziggy Fry

I've quit before too (when broke) and I did not become depressed.
Sin.Ziggy.

`S true pot is really easy to quit compared to alcohol, nicotine, valium, barbs and a whole bunch of other legal things.

[LetsPlayYourWay]

I would say that is true, you are more likely to have been depressed if you have used weed, but that is only because your mind has been opened up to the world around you and has shit to be depressed about, not able to keep the thoughts in a fantasy world.

[farmergiles]

Originally Posted by LetsPlayYourWay

but that is only because your mind has been opened up to the world around you and has shit to be depressed about,

I think often people who have minds like that anyway often are the type of people who are also gonna be into smoking weed. I also think smoking weed helps them with that depression, that`s why there`s a statistical link between depression and weed consumption.
`S only my opinion- you can prove anything with statistics, causal links have to be based on more than that.

[LetsPlayYourWay]

Originally Posted by farmergiles

I think often people who have minds like that anyway often are the type of people who are also gonna be into smoking weed. I also think smoking weed helps them with that depression, that`s why there`s a statistical link between depression and weed consumption.
`S only my opinion- you can prove anything with statistics, causal links have to be based on more than that.

The chicken or the egg?

[farmergiles]

That`s exactly the question.

[DdC]

More Drugczar MTV gossip. Thousands of years of use and hundreds of cultures produced none of these actual victims. They are only found in the sick warped imaginations of drug worriers making huge amounts of money perpetuating the war on some plants users.

Drugwar Lies Linked to Schizophrenia

Groups Endorsing RxGanja

[sillygnd]

I was dissapointed when i read this...they *the man* just has not realy check this "drug" out...do some real testing with good weed.......then tell me what u think.not what u want me to think....