Cannabis as addictive as heroin, major new study finds

[poledriver]

Cannabis as addictive as heroin, major new study finds

By Telegraph reporter12:17AM BST 07 Oct 2014

Cannabis can be as addictive as heroin or alcohol, causes mental health problems and can lead to hard drug use, according to a major new study led by a leading British expert on addiction.

The research, conducted over 20 years by Professor Wayne Hall, an adviser to the World Health Organisation, links use of cannabis to a wide range of harmful side-effects, from mental illness to lower academic attainment to impaired driving ability.

Smoking the class-'B' drug while pregnant is linked with reduced birth weights, while long-term use can cause cancer, bronchitis and heart attacks, according to the paper.

Prof Hall, a leading expert in addiction at King's College, London, also found that:

:: One in six teenagers who regularly smoke cannabis become dependent on it, as are one in ten regular adult users;

Why not let cannabis ease sufferers’ pain? 19 Aug 2014

Grandfather ran cannabis farm to boost his pension pot 06 Oct 2014

Cannabis helps me cope with MS, so why can’t I get it on the NHS? 22 Aug 2014

:: Cannabis doubles the risk of psychosis and schizophrenia, with withdrawal symptoms including anxiety, insomnia, loss of appetite and depression;

:: Driving after smoking cannabis doubles the risk of a car crash, with the risk heightened yet further if you have had a drink;

:: As many teenagers now smoke cannabis as cigarettes.

The Daily Mail quoted Prof Hall as saying: "If cannabis is not addictive, then neither is heroin or alcohol.

"It is often harder to get people who are dependent on cannabis through withdrawal than for heroin. We just don't know how to do it."

Less than half of users stay off the drug for six months or more following treatment, Prof Hall found.

Despite the fact that no cannabis user had died from an overdose, long-term use could be seriously damaging to mental health.

"The important point I am trying to make," Prof Hall writes, "is that people can get into difficulties with cannabis use, particularly if they get into daily use over a long period.

"There is no doubt that heavy users experience a withdrawal syndrome as with alcohol and heroin.

"Rates of recovery from cannabis dependence among those seeking treatment are similar to those for alcohol."

Drugs campaigners said the study showed that heavy cannabis use by teenagers amounted to them playing "Russian roulette" with their mental health.

Mark Winstanley, of the Rethink Mental Illness charity, also called for the Government to focus on educating young people about the dangers, rather than classifying and then reclassifying the drug, as the last Government did.

Mr Winstanley told the Mail: "Too often cannabis is wrongly seen as a safe drug, but as this review shows, there is a clear link with psychosis and schizophrenia, especially for teenagers.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...ddictive-as-heroin-major-new-study-finds.html

 

[MikeRWK]

I've also seen this and I'm not sure what to think of it.Cannabis is impossible for me to quit and stay off, but that doesn't mean its like heroin and I'm just one (nut)case.

 

[...]

Here's a study you should do: have all the subjects simultaneously smoke weed and shoot dope for a couple of weeks, then tell them they can only have either the weed or the dope. Let's see if they don't choose the dope 100 out of 100 times.

 

[421]

In my personal experience cannabis is much more addictive than alcohol. Everyone is different though.

 

[harmacologist]

I sucked 18 dicks last night to pay for my cannabis addiction.

oh wait.

 

[MikeRWK]

I sucked 18 dicks last night to pay for my cannabis addiction.

oh wait.

Ever suck one you didn't like?

 

[Jabberwocky]

Newspapers and newsites "reporting" on recent research findings are notoriously inaccurate in respect to the research they're discussing in the first place. This study does seem most rather strange though. I mean, what proportion of people become dependent on cannabis vs heroin or any opioid/opiate? Few vs many, by comparison. The number who become addicted (or use the substances in some harmful way and manner)? That could be higher, but even then....

 

[slimvictor]

I actually don't have trouble believing the headline (despite the low quality of articles that the Daily Mail creates).
This is because heroin isn't so terribly addictive, and cannabis is more addicitve than many people realize.
Both can allow users to be functional addicts. Probably far more easily than on alcohol (at least, if heroin were legal and quality were assured).
Withdrawals from heroin are certainly far worse than from cannabis, but people can easily get addicted to anything that brings pleasure or reward: gambling, sex, porn, etc.

The real question is not which is more addictive.
It is whether we will allow people to live their lives the way they want to. And whether we will allow them control over their own minds.

 

[Freon]

Here's a study you should do: have all the subjects simultaneously smoke weed and shoot dope for a couple of weeks, then tell them they can only have either the weed or the dope. Let's see if they don't choose the dope 100 out of 100 times.

Good point.

 

[Toz]

Here's a study you should do: have all the subjects simultaneously smoke weed and shoot dope for a couple of weeks, then tell them they can only have either the weed or the dope. Let's see if they don't choose the dope 100 out of 100 times.

Yea, or make 2 separate groups of subjects and have one group use heroin for a month and the other one smoke weed for a month. Then remove the drugs and see which suffer the most cravings and anxiety lol.

 

[poledriver]

Cannabis labelled 'harmful and as addictive as heroin'

"Cannabis: the terrible truth," is today's Daily Mail front page splash story.

The paper cites the risks posed by cannabis – including a doubling of the risk of schizophrenia – based on research the paper says has "demolished the argument that the drug is safe".

The "terrible truth" is we still don't know enough about the safety and harms of cannabis because it's legally and ethically a difficult area to research.

However, we can be pretty certain you can't take a fatal overdose from recreational cannabis use.

The headlines in the Mail and several other papers were prompted by the publication of a narrative review of cannabis research by Professor Wayne Hall, an expert adviser on addiction to the World Health Organization.

Professor Hall concludes that cannabis research since 1993 has shown its use is associated with several adverse health effects, including a doubling of the risk of crashing if driving while "cannabis impaired".

He also found that around one in 10 regular cannabis users develop dependence.

He also reports regular cannabis use in adolescence was strongly linked with using other illicit drugs, as well as increased risk of cognitive impairment and psychoses.

In addition, cannabis smoking probably increases cardiovascular risk in middle-aged adults with pre-existing heart disease, but its effects on respiratory function and respiratory cancer remain unclear as most cannabis smokers have smoked, or still smoke, tobacco.

But as this review was not systematic, it is impossible to tell if all relevant studies have been included. And all these conclusions were based on the results of observational studies, which means we can't tell if cannabis caused all the effects.

Where did the story come from?

The study was carried out by a single researcher from the University of Queensland Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, and the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre in Australia, and the National Addiction Centre at King's College London.

It was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and was published in the peer-reviewed journal, Addiction.

Despite the somewhat hyped headlines, the media coverage of this study was generally accurate, but did not point out the limitations of the research. Indeed, the Mail's description of the study as "definitive" is rather at odds with the nature of the research.

What kind of research was this?

This was a narrative review that aimed to examine the changes in the available evidence on the adverse health effects of cannabis since 1993.

It was not clear how the author identified the studies used as a basis for the review. It may be the case there are other studies showing no effect or harm that have not been included in the review.

It is also not clear how the author compiled the results of the research to come up with strengths of effect.

A systematic review is required to assess the adverse health effects of cannabis use.

Also, although the author applied rules to the interpretation of the research, the conclusions are based on the results of observational studies.

It is difficult to conclude from these types of studies that cannabis causes the effects seen, as there are still potentially differences between people who use cannabis and people who don't that could explain the differences seen.

What did the research involve?

The author looked at studies published over a 20-year period since 1993 (when a previous review was conducted) to see if there was evidence that cannabis caused adverse health effects.

To do this, Professor Hall looked at whether:

there were case control and cohort studies that showed an association between cannabis use and a health outcome
cannabis use preceded (started before) the outcome

the association remained after controlling for potential confounding variables
there was clinical and experimental evidence that supported the biological plausibility of a causal relationship

What were the basic results?

The author listed the conclusions that he believes can now reasonably be drawn in the light of evidence that has accrued over the past 20 years.

Adverse effects of acute use

Professor Hall concluded that:

The risk of a fatal overdose is considered to be extremely small. The estimated fatal dose in humans is between 15 and 70g, far greater than it is reported a heavy user could ever use in one day.

There have also been no reports of fatal overdose in the literature.

Driving while cannabis impaired approximately doubles car crash risk.

Maternal cannabis use during pregnancy modestly reduces birthweight.

Adverse effects of chronic use

Professor Hall concluded that:
Around one in 10 regular cannabis users develop dependence, and this rises to one in six among people who start in adolescence.

Regular (daily or near daily) cannabis use in adolescence approximately doubles the risks of early school leaving and cognitive impairment and psychoses in adulthood.

Regular cannabis use in adolescence is also associated strongly with the use of other illicit drugs.

Cannabis smoking may increase the risk of cardiovascular events such as angina or heart attack in middle-aged and older adults with pre-existing cardiovascular disease.

Some isolated reports suggest younger people not yet diagnosed with cardiovascular disease may also be at risk of cardiovascular events.

The effects of cannabis on respiratory function and respiratory cancer remain unclear because most cannabis smokers have smoked, or still smoke, tobacco.

How did the researcher interpret the results?

Professor Hall concluded that:

"The epidemiological literature in the past 20 years shows that cannabis use increases the risk of accidents and can produce dependence, and that there are consistent associations between regular cannabis use and poor psychosocial outcomes and mental health in adulthood."

Conclusion

This narrative review has concluded that cannabis research in the past 20 years has shown that cannabis use is associated with a number of adverse health effects.

It also found driving while cannabis impaired approximately doubles car crash risk and around one in 10 regular cannabis users develop dependence.

Regular cannabis use in adolescence approximately doubles the risks of early school leaving and cognitive impairment and psychoses in adulthood, according to the review.

Regular cannabis use in adolescence is also associated strongly with the use of other illicit drugs.

In addition, cannabis use probably increases cardiovascular risk in middle-aged adults with pre-existing heart disease, but its effects on respiratory function and respiratory cancer remains unclear because most cannabis smokers have smoked, or still smoke, tobacco.

However, as this was not a systematic review it is impossible for readers to know whether all relevant studies have been included.

All the review's conclusions were based on the results of observational studies.

So while it seems probable that cannabis use increases the risk of some adverse outcomes, it is also possible there are differences between cannabis smokers and non-smokers that explain some of the differences seen.

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2014/10Octob...elled-harmful-and-as-addictive-as-heroin.aspx

 

[Felonious Monk]

They even cop to the fact that it's bullshit with a little disclaimer:

"It was not clear how the author identified the studies used as a basis for the review. It may be the case there are other studies showing no effect or harm that have not been included in the review."

I'm pretty sure all the studies he used are old and have since been debunked.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Thanks poledriver and Felonious

 

[ro4eva]

Cannabis as addictive as heroin, major new study finds

By Telegraph reporter12:17AM BST 07 Oct 2014

Cannabis can be as addictive as heroin or alcohol, causes mental health problems and can lead to hard drug use, according to a major new study led by a leading British expert on addiction.

The research, conducted over 20 years by Professor Wayne Hall, an adviser to the World Health Organisation, links use of cannabis to a wide range of harmful side-effects, from mental illness to lower academic attainment to impaired driving ability.

/smh

Smoking the class-'B' drug while pregnant is linked with reduced birth weights...

The consumption of alcoholic beverages with a bun in the oven can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

while long-term use can cause cancer, bronchitis and heart attacks, according to the paper.

Ethyl Alcohol in any amount is a Group 1 Carcinogen according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

Other examples of Group 1 Carcinogens include (but are not limited to) Arsenic, Asbestos, Formaldehyde, and Radioactive Isotopes.

Furthermore, the consumption of Ethyl Alcohol in amounts required to intoxicate the consumer has repeatedly been shown to be neurotoxic (kills brain cells) , cardiotoxic (and heart cells) , and hepatotoxic (as well as liver cells).

Alcohol Withdrawal is always considered a medical emergency as symptoms typically include delirium, seizures, coma, and death.

Prof Hall, a leading expert...

Pfffft, and a little wee more pfffft.

...in addiction at King's College, London, also found that:

:: One in six teenagers who regularly smoke cannabis become dependent on it, as are one in ten regular adult users;

Physically or psychologically?

Why not let cannabis ease sufferers’ pain? 19 Aug 2014

Because politicians love to double as covert nannies.

Grandfather ran cannabis farm to boost his pension pot 06 Oct 2014

Good for grandpa.

Cannabis helps me cope with MS, so why can’t I get it on the NHS? 22 Aug 2014

Yeah right!

Just kidding, I believe you - honestly.

Cannabis doubles the risk of psychosis and schizophrenia, with withdrawal symptoms including anxiety, insomnia, loss of appetite and depression

Being placed into solitary confinement for longer than 24 hours triples the same risks.

Driving after smoking cannabis doubles the risk of a car crash, with the risk heightened yet further if you have had a drink

Drinking and driving causes a tenfold increase in this risk.

As many teenagers now smoke cannabis as cigarettes.

Which tobacco giant had you make sure that you let readers know about this.

And by the way - I'd rather my kid smokes weed instead of tobacco.

Factors such as nicotine being the most addictive drug on the planet, and witnessing my grandfather slowly but surely choking to death on his deathbed from lung cancer due to a lengthy tobacco smoking habit has influenced me.

The Daily Mail quoted Prof Hall as saying: "If cannabis is not addictive, then neither is heroin or alcohol.

"It is often harder to get people who are dependent on cannabis through withdrawal than for heroin. We just don't know how to do it."

I completely disagree with Cannabis/THC dependency being more difficult than Diacetylmorphine/Heroin, but that's just me.

And with respect to you not knowing "how to [treat] Cannabis/THC dependency," here's a pro bono tip: THC Maintenance Treatment.

Less than half of users stay off the drug for six months or more following treatment, Prof Hall found.

I bet I have a good idea why this is: because your abstinence-based hypocrisy "treatment" sets some awfully unrealistic expectations, and doesn't address the reason why they began using Cannabis in the first place, and perhaps also nor why they continued using it.

You know what though - if treatment worked out the first time for everyone, you guys may soon find business is too slow. How inconvenient that would be for your annual net income.

Despite the fact that no cannabis user had died from an overdose, long-term use could be seriously damaging to mental health.

"The important point I am trying to make," Prof Hall writes, "is that people can get into difficulties with cannabis use, particularly if they get into daily use over a long period.

Moderation is key with everything in this life.

People can get into difficulties with just about anything if they overdo it.

"There is no doubt that heavy users experience a withdrawal syndrome as with alcohol and heroin.

"Rates of recovery from cannabis dependence among those seeking treatment are similar to those for alcohol."

And they will continue to be for as long as the status quo remains, but that's probably what you've wanted all along.

Drugs campaigners said the study showed that heavy cannabis use by teenagers amounted to them playing "Russian roulette" with their mental health.

Every time someone is hit on the head, it's only a matter of time until it causes mental health issues - especially if the blows to the head results in a concussion.

Mark Winstanley, of the Rethink Mental Illness charity, also called for the Government to focus on educating young people about the dangers, rather than classifying and then reclassifying the drug, as the last Government did.

Mr Winstanley told the Mail: "Too often cannabis is wrongly seen as a safe drug, but as this review shows, there is a clear link with psychosis and schizophrenia, especially for teenagers.

Mister Winstanley, do you consume alcoholic beverages and/or tobacco/nicotine products? If so, you may find that you'll have a difficult time getting others to take you seriously.

--------------------------------------------------

I am aware - and I agree - that smoking weed as an adolescent teenager for whatever reason(s) is a bad idea, as the brain is still developing, thus, increasing the risk of mental issues.

I realize that smoking weed every day for a long time can result in what can only be described as a dry, hacking cough, similar in sound to that of a tobacco smoker. However, whether both plants cause lung cancer when smoked long term is something which I've yet to be convinced of.

For fucks sakes - Just let adults consume mind altering substances in private if they wish to, because if you don't, guess what? They'll do it anyways! And the money they paid for their drug of choice could have went to the government instead of organized crime, or are they one and the same? I'm sorry, the lines continue to blur with every day that passes.

 

[S.J.B.]

If they mean "addictive" in the purely statistical sense of "number of current regular users" divided by "number of people who have ever tried it," it may be accurate to claim that cannabis is as addictive as heroin (don't have time right now, but I'll check the NSDUH stats when I do).

 

[neversickanymore]

Man we haven't seen nonsense like this in quite some time.. UK must be about to go legal if they are bringing out all this failed propaganda again. Coincidence it rears it ugly head right after British drugs survey 2014: drug use is rising in the UK – but we're not addicted Shows a clear shift in opinion and behavior IMO. Over 30% admitting to have used a illegal drug. Right around half in favor of legalization of some banned drugs. OH, and surprise surprise 13% addiction rate.. same as it ever was.. same as it ever was. Some on tell this genius that 12 to 15 percent of people get addicted and they get addicted no matter what is done to try and prevent this. I think this "expert" needs to be schooled by Carl Hart in the art of addiction, because it really isn't the drugs.

Have to try and manipulate the sheeple, thing is there are less and less sheeple every minute.

 

[Greyhounder]

Jeez, Colorado must be just about fucked by now then and Amsterdam just mangled remains......

 

[VolcanoPreston]

This was posted in the comments section on the same story in the Daily Mail.

Hall's an anti-drugs adviser to the World Health Organisation. His article is a review, not a study. And his review ignores everything that doesn't fit with his anti-drugs agenda. The largest study ever undertaken concerning cannabis and schizophrenia, undertaken for the AMCD in 2009 (the government's advisory body), showed there was no evidence to support the assertion that cannabis causes schizophrenia. Cannabis use has increased 40-fold in the last 30 years, schizophrenia incidence has stayed about the same. Go figure.

Unsurprisingly this article totally misrepresents the work of Dr Hall. Dr Hall conducted no study - he reviewed other people's studies. If you were a science journalist, you'd know the difference. Dr Hall did not produce his review for the WHO; it is part of his own academic work. The Mail has removed all the words like 'might' and 'may' that Dr Hall uses, because a story is clearly more interesting if it's unambiguous. For example, the review said the evidence suggests smoking cannabis during pregnancy MAY SLIGHTLY reduce the baby's birth weight. In the Mail article this becomes WILL. His review found that cannabis doubles the risk of schizophrenia only amongst daily users of cannabis. Daily users! Separately, nobody has ever argued that driving while under the influence of cannabis is safe, and I doubt anyone thinks smoking cannabis during pregnancy is terribly wise either, particularly as most people smoke it with tobacco.

 

[VitamaN]

Here's a study you should do: have all the subjects simultaneously smoke weed and shoot dope for a couple of weeks, then tell them they can only have either the weed or the dope. Let's see if they don't choose the dope 100 out of 100 times.

fuckin A. I mean ya, I'm sure many people are mentally hooked on weed just as many are mentally hooked on dope but I remember being a huge weed smoker and the "withdrawal" was mood swings and depression. Mood swings and depression are the tip of the iceberg as far as dope sickness goes.

 

[.:Holy::Toast:.]

There are way to many factors at play here.
I've done heroin several times, I have bought a gram or so maybe four times in my life and sniffed/smoked it until it was gone.
I have never felt a lingering craving for it after I was finished.
Now with marijuana I became psychologically addicted to it rather quickly, but there's a huge difference between choosing to continue to use a substance which I know I will be able to use functionally with no real adverse side effects unlike heroin.
Just because cannabis may be more "addictive" than heroin does not mean that the two addictions manifest the same way and thus cannot be compared as such.