Marijuana may increase psychosis risk

[Professor S]

The numbers in the quote Bond posted are some of the most irresonsible I;ve ever seen by a scientist. He mixes different numbers together.

For example, Zammit said the risk of developing schizophrenia for most people is less than 1 percent. The prevalence of schizophrenia is believed to be about five in 1,000 people. But because of the drug's wide popularity, the researchers estimate that about 800 new cases of psychosis could be prevented by reducing marijuana use.

So its 5 in 1,000 normally (.5% chance, BTW), but reducing weed use would stop 800 new cases? 800 new cases out of how many in the pool? 10,000? 100,000? 1,000,000? The world?

There is also the argument of causation vs. correlation. They are including depression in their numbers. Now are they depressed due to the weed, or do those that are depressed tend to gravitate towards its use?

There are so many questions to consider.

[Perfect Stu]

Originally Posted by Professor S

There is also the argument of causation vs. correlation. They are including depression in their numbers. Now are they depressed due to the weed, or do those that are depressed tend to gravitate towards its use?

There are so many questions to consider.

I assume they would only consider cases where depression/other symptoms are new to the user AFTER initial use of the weed. Otherwise, the study would be a joke. I can say with absolute confidence that people who suffer from varying levels of depression are more likely to use weed.

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by Perfect Stu

I assume they would only consider cases where depression/other symptoms are new to the user AFTER initial use of the weed.

Thats the word of the day with this study. They hope you assume.

Science is business. Scientists need results and need to prove their theories so that the grant money keeps rolling in. Be skeptical of all specious science, not just what is created by private companies.

If we judge the methodology and not the funding, then we will be on the right track.

[Teuthida]

I've read earlier studies where the risk of psychosis only increased if used before one's brain was fully developed and had a history of mental illness in the family already.

This reminds me of all those studies about whether cellphones cause cancer. You constantly get conflicting reports. You get studies about the hell benefits of cannabis and then these about the ill effects.

Yada yada yada everything in moderation.

[Typhoid]

if this study was true, honestly - 60-70% of B.C. residents would be insane.

This is not the case.

We're just oblivious.

[Dyne]

Originally Posted by Typhoid

if this study was true, honestly - 60-70% of B.C. residents would be insane.

This is not the case.

We're just oblivious.

That would explain all the homeless with mental illnesses, though.

[Typhoid]

Originally Posted by Dyne

That would explain all the homeless with mental illnesses, though.

I'm pretty sure that would be chalked up to all the heroin.