cannabisnews.com: Depression and Marijuana





Depression and Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on October 28, 2004 at 13:26:53 PT
By Miki Sofer 
Source: Stanford Daily 
Cannabis, pot, marijuana, weed: the aliases abound, but what can be decisively said about this well-known drug? Considering that marijuana is the most commonly used illicit substance in the United States, much ambiguity remains surrounding the relationship between this drug and its users.Although most people associate marijuana with a happiness- or calm-inducing high, recent research has explored the relationship between depression and marijuana.
When the drug hits the brain Chemicals in marijuana flow directly to the brain, crossing the blood-brain barrier and affecting major memory, coordination and learning centers. When someone smokes a joint, THC — the primary active chemical in marijuana — enters the bloodstream through the lungs, binds to specific receptors on nerve cells in the brain and initiates a series of cellular reactions that result in the “high” typically experienced by marijuana users.A study involving inexperienced individuals revealed that marijuana tends to have either a neutral or negative affect on mood, whereas a study of people with depression found that THC may significantly increase unhappiness.Although studies have not been conclusive, mounting evidence suggests marijuana use and depression occur together more often than chance would predict: Clinical studies have reported elevated depression rates among those seeking treatment for marijuana dependence, while others have found a similar association between elevated levels of marijuana use and depression treatment.The question is, what comes first? Marijuana dependence or depression? Teens, drugs and depression In recent years, rising rates of marijuana use and depression among young adults have sparked concern. According to the National Institute on Drug abuse, 46.1 percent of 12th graders surveyed last year admitted to having tried marijuana at some point in their lives, a figure that has declined since the late 1990s, yet is higher than estimates from the earlier part of the decade.Studies on teen depression have indicated that more than 20 percent of adolescents suffer from emotional problems — a third of all psychological diagnoses in teenagers are for depression. Even more disturbing is the adolescent suicide rate, which has increased by a margin of 200 percent since 1993.Drugs or depression: Which comes first?As a result of rising rates of depression and marijuana use, recent studies have attempted to identify a causal relationship between these two factors. At the Washington University Medical School in St. Louis, Dr. Michael T. Lynskey and his colleagues in the Psychiatry Department are researching the function of genetic and environmental variables and the relationship between early-onset marijuana use and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).As part of a larger investigation based in Australia, the method identified 277 twin pairs in which one had initiated marijuana use before age 17 and the other did not. By studying twins, researchers are better able to separate whether drug use and depression are caused by genetic or environmental factors, particularly if they look at the differences between identical and fraternal twins.Lynskey’s study revealed that suicidal thoughts and attempts were over twice as likely to appear in the marijuana-dependent twin.The correlation between marijuana use and depression was higher in the fraternal pairs than in the identical pairs, demonstrating that environmental factors — family life, education, community atmosphere — may play a larger role in both drug abuse and psychological disorders than genetics.“Because there is a difference between [identical] and [fraternal] pairs, some of the observed reactions may arise due to genetic vulnerability to marijuana abuse and environmental influence,” Lynskey explained .The study suggested that marijuana use early on in life may not actually place people at risk for depression later on in life, although continued use may prolong or harm treatment outcome by exacerbating symptoms.“There needs to be recognition that cannabis is not the root cause of every difficulty that people experience,” Lynskey said. “In terms of looking at complex issues like depression, we need to shy away from identifying one factor and search instead for a life course, a complex perspective.”At the opposite end of this correlational spectrum, medical professionals have theorized that depression is the cause of marijuana use, rather than the result. That is, people who are depressed use marijuana to relieve or “escape from” their symptoms of depression. Some studies have demonstrated that marijuana improves mood and that people who are depressed during the initial stages of an experiment are more inclined to begin, continue or increase their marijuana use by the time of follow-up. The student perspective Do students fit this mold? Are they more likely to use marijuana when depressed?When questioned, Stanford students rarely cited depression as a primary reason for smoking marijuana. The vast majority indicated that they smoked because they thought it was fun.“It serves as a change of pace from drinking,” said Sean, who asked that his real name not be revealed.“If you think about all the times that you are high or not high, you realize that you have more fun when you are high,” explained Clark, a habitual user, who also chose not to disclose his real identity.Moreover, the students questioned said that they would never smoke by themselves unless it was in preparation for a social event.“If you smoke by yourself, that’s when it becomes more of an issue,” Clark said.When the topic of depression did arise, it was in the context of a discussion concerning how one’s mood might change after smoking.“Smoking marijuana magnifies a lot of the feelings that you’re already feeling,” Sean explained. “People tend to become very introspective, more self-critical, and from that they get the signs of depression.”Clark reflected on the influence of marijuana on behavior.“If I’m in a bad mood about things, it reinforces those feelings,” Clark said. “I don’t smoke when I am feeling [unhappy] because that leads to problems. I do know people, however, who were depressed, tried smoking and became potheads, immediately.”University health officials are more concerned about the rate of depression at Stanford than drug abuse cases, given that depression is a larger problem among the student population.According to a random sampling conducted this year, approximately 17 percent of Stanford undergraduates had used marijuana in the last 30 days at the time of data collection, a number that has gone down since previous samplings, explained Ralph Castro, manager for the Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention Program at StanfordAdditionally, less than 4 percent of the undergraduates questioned were classified as “chronic” users, individuals who smoke marijuana 10 or more times a month. “Marijuana is here on campus, but it is not epidemic,” Castro said.Dr. Alejandro Martinez, director of Counseling and Psychological Services, CAPS, at the Vaden Student Health Center, agreed, adding that “the number of people who come in with marijuana use problems is very small.”The connection between depression and marijuana use rates on campus remains obscure. Martinez reported that 17 percent to 22 percent of the students that CAPS counsels each year come in for help with depression. These percentages are higher than those observed in the general population, but cannot be tied statistically to the number of people who come in with substance abuse problems. “At Stanford, depression is a more significant concern for us than marijuana use in terms of students who are seeking help,” Martinez explained.Then again, he added, it may be hard to make this distinction since many students that smoke marijuana are unlikely to seek help for abuse problems.Students see marijuana as a “safer” alternative to other drugs.University health officials are concerned about the relatively nonchalant attitude that many students have assumed toward marijuana. Martinez said he thought many students would choose to smoke marijuana and not drink alcohol because they saw it as a drug with fewer health consequences.“From the students’ point of view, marijuana is not perceived as health-compromising,” he said.Students are well aware of the dangers of smoking cigarettes, but they are less likely to be clued into the dangers of smoking marijuana.“People at Stanford are smart to the fact that they know [smoking] kills you, but marijuana has not been proven to do so,” said Melissa, who chose not to disclose her real name.Researchers in Lynskey’s lab will continue to study the complex relationship between drugs and psychological disorders, which will allow doctors and psychiatrists to pinpoint the causes and develop appropriate prevention measures.University officials such as Castro, meanwhile, are concerned that there has been “a shift in adolescent culture.” Extreme forms of behavior, he argued, are surfacing in a larger part of society, and people are placing themselves in more dangerous situations due to cultural pressures, which may lead to higher incidences of both drug abuse and depression in the end.Complete Title: Depression and Marijuana: Does Smoking Pot Put You at a Higher Risk for Depression, or Does the Link Work the Other Way?Source: Stanford Daily (CA Edu)Author: Miki Sofer Published: Thursday, October 28, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Stanford DailyWebsite: http://daily.stanford.org/Contact: letters daily.stanford.eduCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #14 posted by Hope on October 29, 2004 at 13:19:32 PT
some people
I do realize things can be very unpleasant under the influence of cannabis. I have witnessed a few “freak outs”. I also am fully aware that things can get very unpleasant and people can freak out and fail and forget and mess up, not under the influence of said herb. Life is hard sometimes...sometimes for some people it's very, very hard.  The same people that would arrest an eight year old for marijuana possession would force feed said eight year old powerful prescription drugs…unprecedented experimentation on tender hearts and minds and growing molecules. Their ability to pick at “specks” past that “timber” is appalling. 
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Comment #13 posted by Hope on October 29, 2004 at 10:50:00 PT
"not depressed"
no more than usual, anyway.
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Comment #12 posted by Hope on October 29, 2004 at 10:44:33 PT
Why I did it...a confession
First, I was not depressed. I was in fact, a bit exhilarated at my daring. Ultimately, after much introspection and soul searching I have tried to understand why I did it. Ultimatley, I had to come to one conclusion ( I’d like to preface that with stating that I am in no way a hedonist or even nearly. Occasionally, like most people, I like to relax, and perhaps, have a little fun and laugh.).My conclusion?I did it for run through the jungle bare-ass fun.
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Comment #11 posted by dizzle on October 29, 2004 at 09:26:44 PT:
Clark ...
I really didn't appreciate any of "Clark's" comments ...
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Comment #10 posted by The GCW on October 29, 2004 at 06:09:46 PT
Pharmer John want You to eat His poop.
Quoted: “Although most people associate marijuana with a happiness- or calm-inducing high, recent research has explored the relationship between depression and marijuana.”Why didn’t they just explore the relationship between happiness- or calm-inducing high and marijuana? (Because that would not lead to negative findings to persecute plant users with.)420EXPERIENCEDCannabis seems to help Me through depression. (Nothing eliminates depression)Not one alternative from the Pharm industry is as safe, and if cannabis works, it can save thousands of dollars (especially if re-legalized and grown at home...) and much time. (Instead of spending all that time dinking with the Pharmers script lists, plant some plants and even get the soothing qualities that comes from growing a plant. A heal, heal situation.) The Shrink industry is a control scam in many instances. I know people who use the typical depression meds / cocktails and they are no better off in comparison to those who get through depression using cannabis. Of course not all people with depression fit into the same mold; which is the point; if I can get by depression using cannabis and that is My choice of survival; the Gov. should get out of the picture.420REVELATIONI find Myself supporting Cannabis for use in bipassing depression and I also support using Cannabis for My spiritual work, support it for strengthening My ammune system, and so many other things. The Gov. is doing the devils worst work in attempting to exterminate Cannabis.
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Comment #9 posted by siege on October 28, 2004 at 17:29:08 PT
MPP's records
According to MPP's records
The Alaska initiative Yet despite this, our TV and radio ads have generated substantial
support for the initiative in the last few weeks: Our internal polling
indicates the initiative is supported by 42% of the voters and opposed
by 50% (with 8% undecided) -- a huge increase in support since our ads
first started airing
http://www.regulatemarijuanainalaska.org/news/index.html MPP's initiative in Montana 
While polls are running strongly in favor of the initiative -- 63% to
28%, with 9% undecided -- our opponents are doing everything in their power to sink us.
http://www.montanacares.org/news/MPP's polling shows In Oregon 
that voters favor the measure when they understand what it would
do ... but the drug czar is working hard to ensure they don't.
http://www.vote33.org/press/
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Comment #8 posted by kaptinemo on October 28, 2004 at 16:08:39 PT:
How much is self-medication?
Contrary to the theologians who tried to brain-wash me, humans do indeed have instincts. Lot's of 'em. Like the biggest one of all, personal survival.Tied to that is the obvious need to determine what assists that, and what impedes it.But in the case of human beings using cannabis? Well, we already know about the neuropathic qualities of cannabis; how it protects nerve endings from damage caused by trauma or chemical imbalance (like head trauma nerve agent poisoning). So, is it such a stretch, as E_J has posited before, to believe that humans suffering such chemical imbalances will INSTINCTIVELY seek out a natural anodyne capable of alleviating the symptoms (and, with increasing credibility for the idea, HEALING the damage causing the symptoms)? One that has proven effective AND, most important of all, *non-toxic*?To paraphrase a famous saying, "We don' need no steenking Prozac!"
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Comment #7 posted by warhater on October 28, 2004 at 15:24:18 PT:
This is How A Good Reporter Writes
It is an excellent article. The author reports the results of the study without leaping to conclusions. This almost never happens in corporate media. It figures this is from a university. 
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on October 28, 2004 at 14:45:03 PT
Aye! to that!
"Now, being arrested and thrown into rehab would most certainly depress me."
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Comment #5 posted by dongenero on October 28, 2004 at 14:42:18 PT
marijuana treatment = depression
"Clinical studies have reported elevated depression rates among those seeking treatment for marijuana dependence"Well, one thing we know here at Cnews is that many of the people in treatment for cannabis are there as an option to criminal penalties due to arrest.Now, being arrested and thrown into rehab would most certainly depress me.Another issue:
"In recent years, rising rates of marijuana use AND depression among young adults have sparked concern."Okay, these are two different statistics here with an inferred correlation. They ARE NOT saying increased rates of depression IN young adults using marijuanaLet's look at some others:Young adults using more marijuana.
Interest rates are rising.
HmmmmYoung adults using more marijuana.
Youth volunteering is up 12% over the last 10 years.
HmmmFeel free to add in your own correlations. 
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Comment #4 posted by global_warming on October 28, 2004 at 14:26:06 PT
Depression
"Alcohol and Depression.
Alcohol and depression are ugly partners that make a match that is definitely not from heaven. More than 35 to 40 percent of people with an alcohol problem also show signs of depression.People who drink alcohol, but do not have a heavy drinking problem also show signs of depression, but the statistics are not as high. Just 5 percent of men and 10 percent of women who drink alcohol moderately show signs of depression, not outside the norm for depression.People who have a problem with alcohol may begin drinking alcohol when they are experiencing depression. Moreover, after they have binged on alcohol, they often end up with hangovers, which likely include feelings of depression caused by guilt concerning the alcohol binge.If you have a problem with alcohol, you may be battling depression that is related to your alcoholism. For example, you might drink too much alcohol and then return home to an angry spouse or feel a bout of depression the next day at the office."The article is trying to make some connection to marijuana and depression, yet, there many more articles relating depression with alcohol, like Hope asked, which came first, the experts have yet to explain this relationship, and as a side note, even the experts suffer the pains of depression, an affliction that knows no boudaries.
Alcohol and Depression
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Comment #3 posted by Hope on October 28, 2004 at 14:24:25 PT
did I become dependent on cannabis?
To elaborate on the previously stated, "No."Did not...would not...could not.
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Comment #2 posted by Hope on October 28, 2004 at 14:12:52 PT
My answer to a variation of question
"The question is, what comes first? Marijuana dependence or depression?"I have a history with depression.In my case, I was born worried. I was probably worried in the womb. I was always worried...which is tiring and eventually I became not only worried but very prone to depression.My most common expression was a frown.The depression came long before I ever tried marijuana or cannabis or weed or wacky tabaccy or pot or whatever you wanted to call it. Another variation on the original question would be...did you ever become dependent on cannabis?No.
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on October 28, 2004 at 13:40:49 PT
About This Article
I thought it was interesting.
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