Will Regular Marijuana Use Turn Teen Brains To Mush? Yes, Say Psychologists
Baku, August 12 (AZERTAC). Several studies dedicated to the effect of marijuana on our brains have shown a relation between drug use and the development of psychosis in later life. Psychologists discussing the public health implications of marijuana legalization have endorsed these earlier findings by stating that frequent marijuana use can significantly impact the brains of young adults leading to decreased cognition, poor attention and memory, and decreased IQ. The discussions were held at the American Psychological Association's 122nd Annual Convention.
"It needs to be emphasized that regular cannabis use, which we consider once a week, is not safe and may result in addiction and neurocognitive damage, especially in youth," said Krista Lisdahl, PhD, director of the brain imaging and neuropsychology lab at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, in a statement.
People who smoke pot will relate to feeling euphoria, or "high." Other effects include heightened sensory perceptions, altered perceptions, and increased appetite. The number of teens and young adults smoking marijuana has increased significantly since the 1990s. A 2012 study showed that 6.5 percent of high school seniors reported smoking marijuana daily, up from 2.4 percent in 1993. Additionally, 31 percent of young adults between the ages of 18 to 25 reported using marijuana in the last month.
Lisdahl referred to a 2012 longitudinal study of 1,037 participants who were followed from birth to age 38. This study showed that marijuana addiction could decrease IQ by an average of six points.
She also pointed out that brain imaging studies of regular marijuana users have shown significant changes in their brain structure, particularly among adolescents. Abnormalities have been found in the brain's gray matter of 16- to 19-year-olds who increased their marijuana use in the past year. The grey matter is associated with intelligence. These findings remained even after researchers controlled for major medical conditions, prenatal drug exposure, developmental delays, and learning disabilities, she added.
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