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= Consistent Marijuana Usage and the Link to Schizophrenia =



We learned in class a drug is "any mind altering substance that is intended to bring about change in an existing process of state." (Hart, C, Charles, K, Ray, O, 2009)
The reason we chose to research this topic, is because not a lot of people realize the risks of smoking marijuana. They assume that it is an all natural plant, without any negative consequences. We are going to show you the statistics linking marijuana smoking to schizophrenia and psychosis, and hopefully inform you as much as this project has informed us.

This is a video, by David Suzuki. It is one of the topics in "The Nature Of Things" series. The name of this video is "The Downside Of High".
The Downside Of High

"Marijuana use in schizophrenia: a clear hazard
====The use of marijuana as the independent variable produced a serious exacerbation of a psychotic process in four schizophrenic patients whose illness was otherwise well controlled with antipsychotic medication. Each patient served as his own control--the sole substance abused was marijuana and antipsychotic medication intake remained constant. Each time marijuana use at moderate levels began, there was exacerbation and deterioration. The author suggests that marijuana use is a special hazard to schizophrenic patients and that physicians should alert such high-risk patients to the possible untoward interaction between their illness and marijuana." (Am J Psychiatry 1978)====

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====This proves that marijuana is a drug that will have life long impacts on the brain. Firstly, marijuana use doesn`t just effect the state your in at a potential time, but also effects memory, motivation, and criminality, as well as, other things not yet mentioned. (Heavy marijuana use, especially in adolescence, appears to be associated with an **increased** risk for the later development of schizophrenia, and the course of the illness worsens for those who have schizophrenia and continue to use marijuana)====