Long-Term Negative Effects of Cannabis on the Brain

Terrie Moffitt and Avshalom Caspi really painstaking psychologist. Two researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London is collecting data from 1,037 children born in 1972-1973 in Dunedin, New Zealand.

The data becomes part of the famous Dunedin Longitudinal Study. The survey is a multi-factor continues, involving 1.037 people New Zealand as a sample.

Foreign research team used data to project Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study. The findings of this study further strengthen the evidence of the negative effects of drug use. Apparently, teenagers who use cannabis regularly, suffer long-term damage to their brains.

"The age when the use of marijuana and brain development becomes a key factor," said Madeline Meier, a post-doctoral researcher at Duke University in Durham, which became coordinator of the research team. Monday (September 3, 2012), the results of this research were published in the online edition of PNAS.

The conclusion was obtained after using the Dunedin Longitudinal Study data load test intelligence quotient (IQ) as a child and teenager of the respondents. Furthermore, neuropsychological indices tested and examined their behavior, such as drug use.

At the age of 38 years, respondents follow psychological tests to assess memory, speed of processing, reasoning, and visual processing. They found that respondents who are addicted to marijuana when a teenager, test results, worse than those who did not use marijuana.

In addition to testing, the researchers interviewed friends and relatives of the respondent. They found that respondents who are addicted to marijuana as a teenager, was less attention and focus and often forgotten when doing his job.

An international research team has found that persistent, dependent use of marijuana before age 18 has been shown to cause lasting harm to a person's intelligence, attention and memory. (Picture from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/)

From 1,037 respondents, about 5 percent are addicted to marijuana as a teenager. They used marijuana more than once a week before the age of 18. In this group visible change IQ scores at ages 13 and 38 years. Decreased average score of 8 points. According to Meier preparation of the human brain takes place before age 18 years. This condition, he said, are susceptible to damage caused by drug use. Marijuana continuously affect their cognitive function and memory.

Research is increasingly important because previous research did not measure brain function before someone uses marijuana. "This is the most comprehensive study I've ever read, which shows the long-term dangers of cannabis," said Nora Volkow, director of the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse. The institute is co-funded the research along with the British government and a foundation in Zurich.

Robin Murray, a psychiatrist at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, who has researched the relationship between cannabis and psychosis, was impressed with the study. According to him, a number of earlier studies using less number of samples. "Dunedin cohort with a large population being the most studied in the world. This is an excellent example," he said.

How marijuana affects brain. (Picture from: http://truththeory.com/)

Valerie Curran, professor of psychopharmacology at the University College London and a member of the Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs England, invites us to look at other factors, such as depression and lack of motivation.

The latest survey did show teens began to believe that the use of cannabis constantly dangerous to health. The research team hopes. government control teens from using marijuana and other drugs. "The simple message is stay away from the use of substances that are not healthy for children, including tobacco and alcohol," said Avshalom Caspi. *** [UWD | NATURE | CBCNEWS | PNAS | KORAN TEMPO 3986]

Marijuana Contains Narcotics

Marijuana is a plant cultivated fiber producer. In Latin, this plant called Cannabis sativa syn. Cannabis indica is more known for narcotic substances THC (tetra-hydro-cannabinol) in the seeds.

These substances can make the user experience a sense of euphoria or pleasure prolonged without cause. Marijuana plants are usually made into a marijuana cigarette.

A chillum, or chilam, is a straight conical pipe
with end-to-end channel, traditionally made
of clay and used since at least the 18th century
by wandering Hindu monks, known as sadhus
in India. More recently, it has also seen use
in sacraments by Rastafarians in Jamaica, and
by recreational drug users to smoke cannabis,
tobacco, or opiates. (Picture from:  http://flickr.com/)

This crops can reach 2 meters height. Finger-shaped leaves with male and female flowers on different plants (married two). The flowers are small gathering at the end of the branch. Marijuana grows only in tropical mountains with an altitude above 1,000 meters above sea level.

In the United States, marijuana once a symbol of the hippie culture. It is usually denoted by the distinctive shape of marijuana leaves. In addition, marijuana and opium touted as a symbol of resistance against the current capitalist globalism imposed on developing countries.

In India, most of Sadu who worship the god Shiva marijuana use derivative products to perform the ritual worship. They do so by sucking hashish via Chilam pipe / chillum and by drinking bhang.

A number of parties are concerned about the negative effects of marijuana. But research from the project Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study found that this plant brings sorrow to teenagers. *** [WIKIPEDIA | KORAN TEMPO 3986]

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