Megan Brooks May 13, 2024 It’s becoming clear that adolescent brain is particularly vulnerable to cannabis, especially today’s higher-potency products, which put teens at risk for impaired brain development; mental health issues, including psychosis; and cannabis use disorder (CUD). That was the message delivered by Yasmin Hurd, PhD, director of the Addiction Institute at Mount...
Tag: <span>cannabis</span>
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Cannabis use during pregnancy linked to increased risk of ADHD, autism and intellectual disability in children
EUROPEAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION A new study presented at the European Psychiatric Association Congress 2024 reveals a significant association between prenatal cannabis use disorder (CUD) and an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and intellectual disability (ID). Cannabis remains by far the most consumed illicit...
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Cannabis use linked to increase in heart attack and stroke risk
by American Heart Association Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain An analysis of 430,000 adults in the U.S. found that using cannabis, most commonly through smoking, eating, or vaporizing it, was significantly associated with a higher risk of heart attack and stroke, even after controlling for tobacco use (combustible cigarettes and other tobacco products) and other cardiovascular risk...
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Cannabis may be the gateway out of drug addiction
By Paul McClure Using cannabis to manage stimulant cravings led to a reduction in use of crystal methDepositphotos New research has found that daily users of crystal methamphetamine who turned to cannabis to manage their cravings used the stimulant drug less, especially female users. The findings suggest a new harm-reduction strategy is needed for people who...
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Survey finds link between drug/cannabis use during pregnancy and certain childhood cancers
by Sarah Avery, Duke University Pixabay/CC0 Public DomainWhile the risks of drug use, smoking and drinking during pregnancy are widely accepted, a new survey of parents has identified clear associations between certain types of childhood cancers and gestational substance use, notably cannabis. The study—led by Duke Health and appearing in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and...
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TEENS MAINLY USE CANNABIS FOR TWO REASONS
POSTED BY LISA HOWARD-UC DAVIS “We know that earlier onset of cannabis use is associated with the likelihood of developing a cannabis use disorder,” says Nicole Schultz. “It is important we understand what variables contribute to their use so that we can develop effective strategies to intervene early.” (Credit: Getty Images) New research surveyed teens over a...
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Cannabis Use Linked to Epigenetic Changes, Scientists Reveal
ByREBECCA DYER (Marshall Pitman/Canva Pro)Using cannabis may cause changes in the human body’s epigenome, a study of over 1,000 adults suggests. The epigenome functions like a set of switches, activating or deactivating genes to change how our bodies function. “We observed associations between cumulative marijuana use and multiple epigenetic markers across time,” Lifang Hou, a...
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MOST PEOPLE WHO USE CANNABIS FOR SLEEP DITCH SLEEPING PILLS
Most people who report using cannabis to get a good night’s rest have quit using over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids all together, according to a new study. More than 80% of the 1,255 cannabis users surveyed for the new analysis reported no longer using over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids such as melatonin and benzodiazepines. Instead,...
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How the rise in cannabis use is affecting dogs and children
People are laughing at videos of dogs who have consumed marijuana. But the stress and expense isn’t funnyBy Jennifer Graham Accidental ingestion of marijuana products on the rise for children and pets. Getty Images/Tetra images RFIn a waiting room over the weekend, I talked with a woman who’d spent much of the previous day at...
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Study suggests cannabis use during pregnancy could cause lifelong cognitive deficits for offspring
by Prabhjot Sohal, University of Western Ontario Research shows THC exposure can lead to cognitive and memory deficits that are sex-dependent, enduring and potentially lifelong. Credit: Mac Lai/Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry While previous research has shown that prenatal cannabis exposure can obstruct the normal growth of a fetus, the long-term impacts on brain development...