Depression is currently the number one mental disorder in the world, as well as one of the leading causes of years lived with disability (Hales & Lauzon, pp.58, 2012). It does not only alter the way you think but it also alters the way you feel, your social behavior and your physical wellness (Hales & Lauzon, 2012). According to Hales and Lauzon (pp. 58 – 59, 2012), the onset age for depression is during adolescence. In Canada, 8% adults will experience depression and 15% – 40% of college students who are at the age of 18 – 24 are likely to suffer depression (Hales & Lauzon, pp.58 – 59, 2012). As someone who has suffered through depression, this topic piques my interest. It reminds me of a myth prevalent in modern day society: consumption of marijuana decreases depression symptoms. In this research essay, I will begin by defining depression and its symptoms. Then, I will evaluate whether consumption of marijuana has a positive or a negative effect on depression. I will conclude by explaining why I am of the conviction that consumption of marijuana is an unsuitable method of treatment, and present other available alternatives that are better than the risking the side effects of marijuana. Hales and Lauzon (pp.453, 2012) describe depression as “feeling of unhappiness and despair”. DSM-IV sets out some criteria for depression: i) the first criteria is “depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities for more than two weeks”, ii) the second criteria is “a
Marijuana is considered in popular culture to be a widely accepted mainstream recreational illegal drug used in the United States; its use comes with severe adverse side effects that are often overlooked. Long-Term use of marijuana 'sis shown to have negative effects on physical, mental, and environmental health. Studies have shown that in the United States, up to 20% of daily marijuana users become dependent (Marijuana and Lung Health) showing a physical or emotional need for the drug. Marijuana use has the potential to affect every aspect of a person 's physical and mental wellbeing negatively. Its use also comes with potentially life-altering risks to one 's future including an individual’s likelihood of obtaining a degree, impacting their future earning potential and decreasing their overall reported life satisfaction. Once dependent on marijuana, people stop caring about their schooling. Long-term use of smoking marijuana can result in the inability to learn, retain information and think critically.
A person’s daily life is a stake when marijuana is in their lives. Marijuana has the potential to pose difficulties in daily life or cause someone’s existing problems to become worse ("Health Effects of Marijuana Use."). Consumers have reported lower life satisfaction, worse mental and physical health, problems within relationships, and less success in their schooling and careers as opposed to their non-smoking peers ("Health Effects of Marijuana Use."). Studies have shown that marijuana usage is linked to accidents, increased absences, workman’s compensation claims, and job turnover ("Health Effects of Marijuana Use."). Studies have shown that marijuana usage is linked to accidents, increased absences, workman’s compensation claims, and job turnover ("Health Effects of Marijuana
Marijuana - also named weed, hash, pot, Mary Jane, and many others– is, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the number one used illegal and addictive drug around the globe (Williamson, Buckland, & Cunningham, 2013). Users of the psychoactive plant range anywhere from adolescents to senior citizens, and from all social and economic classes. It has, in recent years, gained approval by the FDA for use as a medicine to help treat symptoms of various illnesses – both mental and physical. Thousands of individuals are now using marijuana, and numbers are likely to increase, as the drug may be on the verge of being legalized nation-wide. Surveys from the United States show large support in using marijuana for recreational purposes - 56% - and support for its use as medicine - 70% (Gonzalez & Swanson, 2012). Though multitudes of people use the drug for its effects and potential benefits, not many know exactly how it achieves these things within ones bodies or their minds. People, whether using the drug or not, need to know what marijuana is, how it interacts with the body and brain, and the effects that are produced from this interaction.
In conducting their study Shi (2014) examined the relationship between relationship between marijuana and depression. They examined the risk and quit behavior among adults living with depression or a serious psychological distress in comparison with those who do not. They also examined the relationship between Marijuana use and the time of diagnosis (how recent). Shi (2014) also studied the risk of dependence of Marijuana among adults with depression or serious psychological distress. The purpose of this article deepen our understanding of the relationship between marijuana use and mental health problems, improve the screening for high risk marijuana use subgroups, and provide guidance in the treatment development for the targeted population. (Shi, 2014)
Depression is a widespread issue in today’s world. It can be caused by abuse, conflict, a sudden change in one’s life, and much more. The number one cause of depression is stress. Cannabis, or marijuana, has been used to treat depression dating back to the year 1621 with doctors in India using it to treat depression in their patients. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, was shown to change negative images or emotions in the minds of the patients who smoked marijuana. Many patients stated that it took them to another world, a place where they felt comfortable and the feeling of depression was obsolete. The sad part is that since marijuana is still classified as a
Interests have been raised by rising rates of cannabis use (Donnelly and Hall, 1994; Hall et al., 1999; Degenhardt et al., 2000; Johns, 2001) and depression (Andrews et al., 1998; Cicchetti and Toth, 1998) among young people in many countries. These have been paralleled by an increasing concern
Marijuana is a drug that comes from the hemp plant Cannabis Sativa as a dry, shredded green and brown mixture of stems, seeds, and flowers. The drug is also known as hashish when it’s in a more concentrated, resinous form as a sticky black liquid, hash oil. Marijuana is a mind-altering drug because its main psychoactive chemical is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. In the United States, marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug, which has significant health risks and effects on people. Since 2007, the use of marijuana in the United States has generally increased, particularly after a period of decline in the past decade. The increase in the use of this illicit drug is influenced by a
The current American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV), criteria for the diagnosis of depression include: (1) changes in appetite and weight; (2) disturbed sleep; (3) motor agitation or retardation; (4) fatigue and loss of energy; (5) depressed or irritable mood; (6) loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities; (7) feelings of worthlessness, self-reproach, excessive guilt; (8) suicidal thinking or attempts; and (9) difficulty with thinking or concentration. (Espinoza & Kaufman, 2014, p.2).
In conducting a study Shi (2014) examined the relationship between marijuana and depression. Shi (2014) examined the risk and quit behavior among adults living with depression or a serious psychological distress in comparison with those who do not. He also examined the relationship between Marijuana use and the time of diagnosis (how recent). “The purpose of this article deepen our understanding of the relationship between marijuana use and mental health problems, improve the screening for high risk marijuana use subgroups, and provide guidance in the treatment development of the targeted population” (p. 765).
craves it. Marijuana is smoked in different forms like bongs, blunts, and pot brownies or
Why start using Marijuana? Many people say that smoking marijuana is bad and that one shouldn’t do it, but there are a lot of people that don’t know why. There is also a large percentage of children who are peer pressured into trying for the first time. “According to the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2.1 million people in the US abused marijuana for the first time that year”. Marijuana has many negative effects that people don’t even think of before they use. Smoking marijuana can have negative effects on your physical and mental health. Some of these effects will also stay with these users for the rest of their lives. Marijuana should not be legalized, because it lowers brain function, decreases reaction time, and is a gateway drug.
is an effect that gives you a strong desire of food. It is bad if you
What is marijuana? What is it made of? Why is cannabis still illegal in certain states? Why does marijuana have so many names? Where do the names come from? What is the marijuana culture and how do they celebrate? How is marijuana beneficial? All these questions roaming through people’s mind. Cannabis is a green mixture of the dried, shredded leaves and flowers of Cannabis sativa. People usually smoke marijuana in hand-rolled cigarettes called joints or cigars called blunts, or in a pipe, or an edible. Although many people are against marijuana it has many beneficial effects in many areas such as diseases and education.
Marijuana is a preparation of the Cannabis plant intended for use as psychoactive (Affecting the mind) drug and as medicine. There are over 400 chemicals in Marijuana however only about 61 are actually taking into use. Marijuana is a depressant. A depressant is a drug that slows down the function of the central nervous system. Depressant drugs do not necessarily make a person depressed.
The purpose of this research is to find out whether there is an increased risk of depression among cannabis users compared with non-users. The experiment focuses mainly on this hypothesis because many believe smoking cannabis causes you to be extremely depressed in the long run. Another specific aim was to examine whether there is an association between cannabis and schizoaffective disorder. Many fallacies about