Marijuana induced psychosis

Depositphotos_9662815_l-2015

Marijuana-induced psychosis is real and dangerous. This is perhaps most important to remember when gap year students are away from home for the first time. The average cannabis user, seller, and manufacturer want you to believe that marijuana is an innocent, harmless drug. It is mainly described as a relaxing way to unwind. As marijuana usage becomes legal and more popular, it's important for people to know the facts about marijuana and its possible side effect.

While there are some medical benefits to medical cannabis, which can be taken under the auspices of a physician for specific conditions, there are lesser-known adverse effects that can be dangerous.

Psychosis is a severe mental disorder in which thoughts and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality. It can result in feelings of paranoia, delusional thinking, and hallucinations. Contrary to popular belief, marijuana-induced psychosis is not always reversible, and some victims suffer from this condition for years.

Dr. Haim Moshe Adahan, founder of the pain rehabilitation center in Modiin and chief of pain rehabilitation at Sheba Medical Center, states that medical cannabis can be very helpful for specific medical conditions, but it is a drug that has not been studied extensively, so the full extent of adverse effects and benefits has not been thoroughly explored. Another problem is that there are thousands of types and subtypes of cannabis, and each one has different potential effects. What is clear is that cannabis has the potential of causing psychosis in young patients, and even if used under medical guidelines, should be used with caution in young patients.

Many different studies have been done on the relationship between marijuana and psychosis. There is a 40% increased risk of psychosis when comparing people who had used marijuana to people who have never used it. The highest risk for the possible psychotic reaction is age, as the brain continues to mature and develop until age 25. This makes the young population the highest risk for cannabis-induced psychosis. A familial or individual history of mental illness (especially psychosis) further increases the chance of this terrible effect.

Cannabis-induced psychosis incidents are on the rise simply because more and more young people are using marijuana. Because of this, Dr. Adahan states that medical providers must use great caution when prescribing medical cannabis for people in this high-risk age group.

The cannabis of today is extremely well manufactured, resulting in high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol, (THC). THC is the main mind-altering component of the cannabis plant.

The average level of THC by decade:

Decade

THC %

1970's

1.08 % 

1980's

2.83 % 

1990's

3.76 % 

2000's

5.73 % 

Other effects of cannabis include impaired judgment, confusion, increased appetite, anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia, impaired coordination, impaired concentration, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, and fertility issues. Effects can take hours to wear off, as THC is released slowly into the bloodstream.

THC is addictive, despite what marijuana users commonly believe. The ways you can get addicted to the THC component of cannabis are:

1. Habitual, regular use

2. Self-medicating a mental illness

3. Using THC at the end of the day or at parties like alcohol

4.Using THC to avoid feeling withdrawal symptoms (a sure sign of addiction)

EMA Care encourages parents to speak to their teenage and young adult children about the dangers of using marijuana – particularly before embarking on a gap year program abroad. Just like alcohol, smoking marijuana, and driving is forbidden! It may not be easy to speak about substance abuse with your children, but the possibility of marijuana-induced psychosis is real, as is marijuana addiction. 

×
Stay Informed

When you subscribe to the blog, we will send you an e-mail when there are new updates on the site so you wouldn't miss them.

Tisha B'av fasting tips
Fake news during a Coronavirus Pandemic

Our Latest Blogs

25 June 2023
Medical Checklist for Gap Year Students It's probably safe to say that the Gap year packing list your child received did not include a medical supplies checklist. There are many reasons to give your kids some medical supplies and medicines before the...
31 October 2021
You have decided to make your Aliyah and currently take prescription medications. How can you continue with your medication regimen in Israel? How can you ensure that your medications are available in Israel and how do you communicate the need for th...
17 October 2021
During the Coronavirus pandemic, many people have been worried about the upcoming Flu season. But to everyone’s surprise, the numbers in the southern hemisphere were the lowest they have been in a long time. “Never in my 40-year career have we ever s...

EMA Care in the News

05 September 2021
Medical Care during the Holidays can be tricky in Israel especially if you do not speak Hebrew. During the holidays, many medical offices and hospitals are operating on Shabbat mode. Shabbat mode means that personnel is cut to minimum staffing, many ...
19 July 2021
Over the years, we've been approached by people who've asked us about different kinds of diets and food plans. Intermittent fasting has become very popular over the last few years. It is a method of dieting that restricts the amount of time you are a...
11 July 2021
 Telemedicine is a great option for caring for geriatric populations in Israel. This is especially true during the Covid-19 pandemic. Over the years, we’ve had many clients who care for their older, dependent parents. Take our clients, the A fam...

What Our Clients Say

Our COVID-19 WhatsApp informational group

Thank you so much for your help. I can't tell you how this Whatsapp group helps all of us. It makes everyone so much more relaxed to have real good information and have somewhere to ask questions, I am so grateful!
Read More...

Our COVID-19 WhatsApp informational group

I want to express my appreciation for these very informative updates.

Thank you so much

Read More...

Entry to Israel services

Your team was so attentive to my needs. Everyone was so incredibly quick to respond and were proactive when they were able!

Read More...

Interview with Dr. Mobeen & Dr. Eliana Aaron

Many thanks for your hour-long session on Dr. Syed's YouTube channel. This is the best Hasbara Israel could wish for!

Read More...

EMA Care information and Q&A conference

Thank you for the zoom (and all your updates). It was great. I wish the news was like that. Straight forward, factual, unemotional.  Bravo to both of you ladies!! 

Read More...

EMA Care information and Q&A conference

Thanks so much for your time and attention! It was excellent! Thank you guys so much for organizing.

Read More...

EMA Care information and Q&A conference

Thank you! Very helpful and comprehensive.

Read More...

WhatsApp groups

I really appreciate being apart of your WhatsApp groups. It keeps me informed and up to date!

Read More...

Ema Care WhatsApp groups

I have been following your updates closely and I really appreciate your posts and I know that I am reading accurate information 

Read More...

Recommended by an Infectious Disease Specialist

My experience with Ema Care has been so positive that I wanted to share it in case it could help someone else. Eight days ago my daughter, a Shanah Bet student, called to say she wasn’t feeling well and had symptoms of Covid-19. I was put in touch with an Infectious Disease specialist who recommended Ema Care. I reached Dr. Eliana Aaron easily and signed my daughter up. The next morning, Ema Care gave my daughter a telehealth exam and provided her with prescriptions, as well as a list of

...
Read More...