Cannabis - Health and Wellbeing

Table of Contents

Cannabis.

Use of Cannabis.

Main causes of consumption.

Cannabis Use in Community.

Associated Risks.

Cannabis Addiction.

Misuse.

Cannabis Used Disorder (CUD)

1. Cannabis

Cannabis in its purest form is a flower bearing plant. When it is dried it becomes weed or most commonly known marijuana, the world famous drug. Bonnet & Preuss, (2017) cannabis is of three types: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica and Cannabis ruderails, all of which are psychoactive drugs.

2. Use of Cannabis

Gonçalves‐Pinho et al. (2020) identify stress relief as the main use of marijuana, whether it be from studies or work pressure. Most of the young adults who either enter college or new job, find cannabis consumption to be relaxing for their nerves and reduce their physical and mental stress.

3. Main Causes of Consumption

Nestoros et al. (2017) observes that peer pressure in social groups is the main reason for consuming cannabis. Some also consider cannabis to be a harmless drug compared to the other variants available in the market.

4. Cannabis Use in Community

Cannabis is quite a common drug in the community of Berwick. It is found in the local dispensaries of Berwick; one does not have to visit the city to purchase the drug.

5. Associated Risks

The major reason of using cannabis is getting addicted to it. Cannabis relaxes the brain nerve and as Bonnet & Preuss, (2017) has observed its prolonged consumption can result in mental illness. The study further reveals that people who consume cannabis more than fifty times before 18 years of age are prone to be affected by schizophrenia in their mid-forties.

6. Cannabis Addiction

The likelihood of cannabis addiction, as per World Health Organisation (2020), depends upon age. People who start consuming the drug before attaining 18 years of age are five times more likely to get addicted to it.

7. Misuse

Following are the affects of misuses of Cannabis: -

Experimentation with cannabis acts as gateway for other drugs like cocaine.
Increased heart rate.
Decreased concentration and energy
Decrease in decision making power.

8. Cannabis Used Disorder (CUD)

Prolonged use of cannabis leads to pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic changes within the drug user (Alcohol and Drug Foundation, 2020). The tolerance level increases due to these changes leading to increased dosage use for achieving the desirable effect.

Reference List for Cannabis Used Disorder

ABC health and Wellbeing, (2019). Cannabis - Health & Wellbeing. Retrieved 20 August 2020, from https://www.abc.net.au/health/library/stories/2002/08/22/1829503.htm

Alcohol and Drug Foundation (2020). Cannabis. Retrieved 20 August 2020, from https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/cannabis/

Australian Centre for Cannabinoid Clinical and Research Excellence. (2020). Retrieved 20 August 2020, from https://www.australiancannabinoidresearch.com.au/

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, (2020), Alcohol, tobacco & other drugs in Australia, Cannabis - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2020). Retrieved 20 August 2020, from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/alcohol/alcohol-tobacco-other-drugs-australia/contents/drug-types/cannabis

Bonnet, U., & Preuss, U. W. (2017). The cannabis withdrawal syndrome: current insights. Substance abuse and rehabilitation, 8, 9. Retrieved 20 August 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc5414724/

Cannabis withdrawal management, (2020). Cannabis withdrawal management. Retrieved 20 August 2020, from https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/clinical+resources/clinical+programs+and+practice+guidelines/substance+misuse+and+dependence/substance+withdrawal+management/cannabis+withdrawal+management

Department of Health, (2020). Guidance for the use of medicinal cannabis in Australia: Patient information. Retrieved 20 August 2020, from https://www.tga.gov.au/publication/guidance-use-medicinal-cannabis-australia-patient-information

Gonçalves‐Pinho, M., Bragança, M., & Freitas, A. (2020). Psychotic disorders hospitalizations associated with cannabis abuse or dependence: A nationwide big data analysis. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 29(1), e1813. Retrieved 20 August 2020, from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/mpr.1813

Healthdirect Australia, (2020). Substance abuse. Retrieved 20 August 2020, from https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/substance-abuse

Nestoros, J. N., Vakonaki, E., Tzatzarakis, M. N., Alegakis, A., Skondras, M. D., & Tsatsakis, A. M. (2017). Long lasting effects of chronic heavy cannabis abuse. The American Journal on Addictions, 26(4), 335-342. Retrieved 20 August 2020, from http://www.biblioteca.cij.gob.mx/Archivos/Materiales_de_consulta/Drogas_de_Abuso/Articulos/long%20lasting.pdf

World Health Organisation, (2020). Cannabis. Retrieved 20 August 2020, from https://www.who.int/substance_abuse/facts/cannabis/en/

Yang, L., Wong, L. Y., Grivel, M. M., & Hasin, D. S. (2017). Stigma and substance use disorders: an international phenomenon. Current opinion in psychiatry, 30(5), 378. Retrieved 20 August 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5854406/

Your Room Australia, (2020). Cannabis Effects, Facts and Withdrawal Symptoms. Retrieved 20 August 2020, from https://yourroom.health.nsw.gov.au/a-z-of-drugs/Pages/cannabis.aspx

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