Cannabis Abuse Increases the Risk of Depression

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Table of Contents

Problem definition
Aims
Background
Summary of the problem
Solution
Methods to prove that these solutions worked
Significance
Works Cited

Problem definition

Cannabis is also called marijuana. This is a drug taken either through smoking, vaporization oral consumption among others. These methods have various costs and benefits related to the health issues and effects of cannabis on users. The psychoactive effects of cannabis, known as “high” are subjective and vary with the individual. Some of its effects are agitation or anxiety, experiential argumentation of other psychedelics, a general change in consciousness, mild euphoria, argumentation, relaxation, stress reduction, increased appreciation of humor, music or art joviality, metacognition, introspection, increase of episodic memory, increase awareness of sensation, increased libido, creative or philosophical thinking paranoia, etc.

The majority of people taking marijuana are youngsters because there is a fallacious argument that it reduces depression. Most of the studies carried out by researchers in America show that young males consume a lot of cannabis and alcohol. This major cause increased traffic accidents. Despite being under the control of alcohol they lack experience in driving, they are risk-takers and delinquent. These variables may relate to both drug use and accident risk, presenting an artificial relationship between the use of drugs and accident involvement (Lincoln 43).

From various case studies, for instance, the 1997 pilot study reported that continued smoking was a result of belief of it reduces depression and anxiety. Another study carried out to investigate this hypothesis revealed that it does not exacerbate depression but increased it. Since tremendous cannabis usage has become rampant within the last three decades, their long effects are still under investigation.

The users of cannabis become apathetic, socially withdrawn, perform below average, damages the cells in the bronchial passages which protect the body against inhaled microorganisms. Doctors suggest that cannabis is a general “immunopressant” whose degenerative effects go beyond the respiratory system. Causes a lot of mental disorders like acute toxic psychosis, delusions, hallucinations, depersonalization, paranoia, flashbacks, bipolar psychosis, and schizophrenia.

In case this problem is not acted upon with immediate effect it is going to ruin the country’s performance. The youths who are the backbone of society are going to be wiped out by this killer drug, the students’ performance in schools which the government spends a lot is going to decline seriously, the moral standard of the society will be decayed, The country will not have any future because the youth will have destroyed themselves.

The development of the country will decline by at least fifty percent within the next ten years. This is because of reduced literacy rate, low performance, and increased death of the economically productive group.

Aims

Solving the problem of the consumption of cannabis will have a great benefit not only to smokers but to the citizens and the whole world at large.

The smokers of cannabis will be rehabilitated. This will reduce the dependency ratio and the country’s production will increase highly.

The accidents in the country will reduce. This will save the loss to manpower and reduce the cost of treating the injured, repairing the damaged vehicles among other costs incurred (Lincoln 65).

The students’ performance in schools will increase. Frankly speaking, there is a lot of wastage rate, because of high school dropouts and poor performance when students are destroyed by the use of drugs.

The life mortality rate will improve. This is because; people will have better methods of dealing with stress rather than going into drugs abuse.

The government will save a lot of money which is used to treat illnesses like cancer which are caused by using marijuana.

HIV/AIDS prevalence will reduce. This is because youngsters will be a bit responsible in sexual matters since they not be under the influence of alcohol.

Reduce crime rates. This is because people will be working hard and will be self-dependent hence they will not involve in delinquent behaviors to earn a living (Ramström 118).

Background

The majority of the people have a notion that taking cannabis will decrease depression. Others take it as a social drug since they smoke in groups, while others argue that it is a sign of maturity, causes relaxation, and increases appetite. Studies done by researchers, doctors, and scientists have revealed all this to be false. However, if we look at the short term effects of the drug may seem as true since it does all this.

Taking a closer look of the situation, the long term effects are more devastating than the short term pleasures attained when the drug is taken. In the neurology issue of February, whereby 54 cannabis users and 18 nonusers were studied, the researchers found that blood flow in brain was significantly higher in marijuana users than nonusers. Though researchers found that marijuana users had higher scores of pulsatility index (PI) which is a measure of resistance to blood flow, it brought a great need of more investigations to be done. Marijuana users who had not used it for along time were able to recover after abstinence.

That is, the level of resistance to blood flow improved over abstinence month, but there was no change in heavy marijuana users. There is no laboratory test for depression. However, physician’s sometimes test for physical conditions that may cause similar symptoms before arriving at a diagnosis. The course varies widely: it can appear either gradually or fast; it can be a once in a lifetime event or have multiple occurrences and can either last for few days or be a life-long disorder.

Since there is no laboratory test for depression some people may support the use of cannabis. But evading a problem is not a solution to it rather brings a multiplicative effect which highly felt in the long run. Ronald PhD found in his research that cannabis users have a PI values that are higher than of people with high blood pressure and diabetes. This shows that cannabis causes immense abnormalities in the small blood vessels in the brain. This is evidenced by the fact that similar PI values in other related diseases that affect small blood vessels (Ramström 27).

Most of the respiratory diseases are enhanced by smoking marijuana, like lung cancer. Doctors have proved without any reasonable doubt that cannabis and cigarette smoke contain many toxins like tar which is the key factor in promotion of lung cancer. One joint of cannabis has four times the tar of a cigarette. In US cancer causes more than 125,000 deaths each year. Study shows that, patients with weakened immune system have greater chances of getting other dangerous pulmonary infections, including pneumonia which is fatal especially to AIDS infected persons.

Summary of the problem

With evidence above among others not cited, it is very clear that we cannot bury our heads in sand and look on to our generation being devoured by a beast. We have to come up with a lasting solution. The funds used to treat marijuana related diseases can be used for more productive works. The money wasted in schools and students fail to learn cannot be condoned any further. All these is as result of increased depression because of use of cannabis The problem is no longer a personal problem but a social problem affecting even the unborn and it should be fought at all cost.

Solution

To solve this problem, we have to join hands and use all possible mechanisms to reduce the menace and finally we are going to solve it. Since the youth aged between 15 and late thirties are the most affected we have to take a close look to them and see how they can be assisted. Rehabilitation centers can be developed where the affected can be assisted in terms of counseling and other support needed. Also, the street children must be assisted and people in slums who constantly take marijuana to reduce depression (Merck 51).

Treating these people is not a simple task; this is because majority will be afraid to come for assistance. They may decline assistance due to: lack of information, ignorance, fear to be punished by relevant authorities and lack of strict follow up among other reasons. After ensuring that everything needed to solve the problem is available, start by a small group of people whom you know, and other people who will volunteer themselves for the exercise. This must be done in a very professional way so that the victims enjoy the services being offered. This will make even the ones who feared now to come up and be assisted.

The exercise may be expensive and time consuming especially for the people with acute problems and chronic users. Some might have entered there due poverty to run away from the reality and should be assisted to come back to real life even if it means giving them some capital to start their small businesses. Great sensitizations must be done to reach everyone even the marginalized. Education of the effects of use cannabis must be intensified such that no one smokes it out of ignorance.

The education for all must be initiated at tender age. This can be done in schools, churches, formal and informal gatherings, by using influential people like teachers, pastors, parents, doctors among others. The people who can give accurate information about use of the drugs can be obtained from the people who are consuming it.

After detecting few of them and giving them therapy, then send them to assist their colleagues. Cannabis addiction’ treatment may vary according to method of use and level of toxin. Some proposed alternatives as the addicts recover are: using vaporizers i.e. inhaling THC without burning the cannabis, using one-hitters or mini-toke utensils, bongs, eating cannabis brownies or other food containing can abutter or budder and using bleach glue free papers like Alenda and RAW (Merck 83).

Measuring the outcome of whether the problem has been solved can be done slowly by slowly and continuously. This is because, some may come back to take the drug even after stopping. This can reduced by governments interventions whereby it can tighten the laws regarding drug trafficking and consumption of marijuana. Various studies conducted shows that 90 percent of people taking cannabis are trying to stop but they are unable. So, if these people are assisted to stop they cannot take it any longer.

Methods to prove that these solutions worked

Correlation performance of students who were under treatment because of taking cannabis may be compared i.e. how they were performing initially and currently. The road accidents caused by people under influence of cannabis may be calculated and compared. A survey can be carried out to get the AIDS prevalence rate. The performance of youth in economy development can be compared by either use of case studies or correlation studies.

Significance

There are limitations to the solution above. To start with, some might have reached a critical stage which cannot be reversed, others may not be willing to corporate with strategies put forward, Because of believes and values other people may continue to smoke but may pretend to have stopped.

The solution may not however work to everyone, everywhere, all the time because the people who know these drug addicts may give them the wrong information about the matter hence others may hide. To some people and groups they take cannabis to enhance libido this may hinder them from stopping to take the drug.

Potential negative consequences of the solution, and how to address these problems; People may turn out to a more vigorous taking of other drugs which may have a lot of impacts to their health. To solve this problem the users need constant support through counseling, provision of supplement materials among other help they may require (Ramström 213).

Additional benefits to solving the problem using this solution is that many people will be helped without feeling intimidated. The future generation will be saved since the users of cannabis will reduce, be active and improve the economically. There will be no suspicion to people hence they will not fear to come for the therapy.

Other people with similar problems who may be helped by this solution are cigarette smokers, alcoholics and other drug abusers. These people might have been missing the assistance to stop the vice. Even commercial sex workers may come for help and counseling and they can also stop their behaviors. This can save our country greatly since these are major transmitters of HIV/AIDS.

The next step in the research process can be to find out the clear causes of youths indulgence in taking of drug so that to find a lasting solution to this problem and related cases. I can use the affected to get the reasons why they engaged themselves in drug.

Works Cited

Lincoln. Neurology issue World Health Organization Programmed on Substance abuse, 2007.

Merck, C. M. Diagnosis Manual journal on marijuana, 1997.

Ramström, J. A. Survey of Scientific Studies Published including the Autumn of 2003, National institute of public health. Sweden: Stockholm, 2003.

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