Smoking Cannabis Virtually Doubles the Risk of Developing...

The media are often guilty of presenting studies in a way that leads to misinterpretation by the public. A recent BBC news article reads â€Å"Cannabis use ‘raises psychosis risk’ – Study† and the Daily Mail warns â€Å"Cannabis use ‘doubles risk of psychosis for teenagers†. Such headlines give the impression that there has been a clear causal relationship found between smoking cannabis and the development of mental illnesses (News, 2011; Hope, 2011). Kuepper et al. (2011), the study referred to above, reported that cannabis use is a risk factor for the development of incident psychotic symptoms (short-lasting individual symptoms). They found that cannabis users were almost twice as likely to report incident psychotic symptoms (adjusted odds ratio†¦show more content†¦Due to the lack of experimental control, large participant samples are required in order to look for a connection between cannabis use and psychosis. This further reduces researchers’ ability do large-scale studies looking directly at the effects of cannabis use. It is not economically feasible to diagnose an follow a large cohort of participants using objective clinical measures. This means that the validity of the research is stretched further, as cost effective means of measuring psychoticism and cannabis do not use direct measures. Psychoticism is generally inferred by way of self-reports from individuals on whether they have experienced psychotic symptoms. This might introduce confounds, and further reduces the likelihood that self-reports of incidence psychotic symptoms are truly indicative of cannabis being a causal risk in developing a mental illness. For example, participants may become aware of the purpose of the study and worry about drug-use having an effect, thus start to actively look for and remember such incidences, more so than non-users. Due to ethical, funding and time constraints, it is incredibly difficult for researchers to get a clear picture of the effect cannabis use has on the development of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. The field of research is marred with problems, there is stillShow MoreRelatedThe Common Serious Mental Health Condition2494 Words   |  10 PagesSchizophrenia What is it? Schizophrenia is one of the most common serious mental health condition. About 1 in 100 people will experience in their lifetime, although many continue to lead normal lives. It is most often diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 35. The exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown, however it is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. As with many other mental health conditions, it is hard to prove someone is suffering from it, and can beRead MoreThe Cannabis Debate Essay examples3978 Words   |  16 PagesThe Cannabis Debate The cannabis debate has never been a straightforward one. At the beginning of the 21st century, perceptions and preconceptions about cannabis and its uses have never been more blurred. Some see cannabis as a menace to society whilst others see it as a useful source of fibre, food and medicine. Doctors and scientists spend millions investigating its medicinal value yet for every positive piece of research, there is a negative. (Brownlee, 2003)