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Development of an anxiety disorder following an emergency department visit due to cannabis use: a population-based cohort study
Interpretation: ED visits for cannabis use were associated with an increased risk of having an incident healthcare visit for an anxiety disorder, particularly in young males. These findings have important clinical and policy implications given the increasing use of cannabis over time and trend towards legalization of cannabis. (The Lancet)
Nearly a third of people who visited the emergency room for a cannabis-related concern developed a new anxiety disorder within three years, according to research released Monday.
The study—published today in The Lancet’s open access journal eClinical Medicine—is said to be the most comprehensive examination of the relationship between cannabis use and anxiety to date.
Canadian researchers examined the health records of more than 12 million people living in Ontario between 2008 and 2019 who had no record of an anxiety disorder, or of receiving treatment for one. Those who had an emergency room visit for cannabis use during that period were more than three times more likely to be diagnosed with a new anxiety disorder—at an outpatient visit, emergency room, or hospital—within three years, the study found. They were also nine times more likely to require another health care visit—an outpatient or ER visit, or a hospitalization—for an anxiety disorder down the road.
Young cannabis users—ages 10-24 and males, in particular—were at particularly elevated risk, researchers noted. (
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Yet another study confirms that cannabis is not an effective treatment for opioid addiction, this time from Brazil’s University of Ribeirão Preto, Yale University et al. Their meta review covered 8,367 people given drugs to treat opioid addiction.
Conclusion: There was no significant association between cannabis use and non-medical opioid use among patients receiving pharmacotherapies for OUD
See also
- Marijuana Cannabis Use and Risk of Prescription Opioid Use
- Weeding out the truth: a systematic review and meta-analysis on the transition from cannabis use to opioid use and opioid use disorders, abuse or dependence
- Cannabis use appears to encourage, not replace, non-medical opioid use
- Cannabis use does not reduce long-term heroin use, study finds
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Cannabis use has increased significantly in recent years, and it has some experts concerned.
By Irina Antonova 12/23/2023
The use of cannabis can lead to changes in DNA that can cause genetic mutations and subsequent serious diseases, according to a new study.
Cannabis—also known as marijuana—is one of the most commonly used drugs in the United States. Its use has increased significantly in recent years, with a recent survey showing 42.3 million people used it in the past month.
The increased use of marijuana has some experts concerned.
The Health Risks of Cannabis Use
The study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, analyzed data from about 9,500 participants from different groups, including parents and children, twins, and older adults.
Researchers assessed DNA methylation, an indicator of potential health outcomes due to how genes are expressed. The genome study analyses were evaluated according to the different genetic groups and adjusted according to age, gender, cigarette smoking, and blood type.
Researchers found that five genes with DNA methylation had sites associated with the use of cannabis, with significant roles in human health conditions. This included one gene (LINC01132) linked to liver cancer and ovarian cancer. A previous study, however, showed a lower incidence of liver cancer among cannabis users.
Researchers also found that chemicals in cannabis, including the active ingredient THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), alter the user’s DNA, which can cause gene mutations that can increase the risks of diseases.
Understanding DNA Methylation
DNA methylation is a fundamental epigenetic mechanism that regulates gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence.
Methylation patterns can be heritable and change over time in response to various environmental factors, including diet, lifestyle, and substance exposure.
Altered DNA methylation patterns have been associated with several diseases and conditions, including cancer, developmental disorders, and neurological conditions. Factors such as aging, environmental exposures, and certain medications can influence DNA methylation patterns, potentially impacting gene regulation and cellular functions.
How Does Cannabis Use Affect Future Generations?
The authors of a previous study, Gary Hulse and Albert Stuart Reece from the School of Psychiatry and Clinical Sciences at the University of Western Australia, point to the connection between the use of cannabis and the health risks associated with it and what this may mean for future generations.
The scientists are concerned that even when the user does not develop an illness from gene mutations associated with cannabis use, they can pass the mutation on to their children and grandchildren.
“Even if a mother has never used cannabis in her life, the mutations passed on by a father’s sperm can cause serious and fatal illnesses in their children,” Mr. Reece said in a University of Western Australia media statement on May 24, 2016.
“The parents may not realise that they are carrying these mutations, which can lie dormant and may only affect generations down the track, which is the most alarming aspect.”
Chemicals in cannabis can alter a user’s DNA, and this can slow down the growth of the cells. For a growing fetus, this could lead to underdeveloped limbs or organs or even cancer, the researchers theorize.
“The worst cancers are reported in the first few years of life in children exposed in utero to cannabis effects,” explained Mr. Reece in the press statement.
For complete article and research go to https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/cannabis-can-alter-dna-study-5535196 and Trans-ancestry epigenome-wide association meta-analysis of DNA methylation with lifetime cannabis use | Molecular Psychiatry (nature.com)
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Taking medical cannabis for chronic pain linked to increased risk of arrhythmia
People taking medical cannabis for chronic pain have a slightly increased risk of arrhythmia, according to research published in the European Heart Journal today (Thursday). Arrhythmia is when the heart beats too slowly, too quickly or irregularly. It includes conditions like atrial fibrillation.
Recreational use of cannabis has been linked to cardiovascular disease but there has been very little research on the side effects of medical cannabis. (In most cases it’s simply the same ‘recreational’ product with the word ‘medical’ in front of it! And this is science?)
Researchers say the new study is important as a growing number of countries now permit medical cannabis as a treatment for chronic pain.
The data showed that patients receiving medical cannabis had a 0.8% risk of being diagnosed with arrhythmia that required monitoring and possible treatment within 180 days of receiving cannabis. This risk was more than twice the risk for patients with chronic pain who were not taking cannabis.
Medical cannabis is now allowed as a treatment for chronic pain in 38 US states as well as several countries in Europe – such as Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and the UK – and elsewhere around the world. This means more and more doctors will find themselves prescribing cannabis, despite a lack of evidence on its side effects.
I don't think this research should make patients with chronic pain refrain from trying medical cannabis if other treatment has been inadequate. However, these results do suggest some improved monitoring may be advisable initially, especially in patients who are already at increased risk of cardiovascular disease."
Dr. Anders Holt from Copenhagen University Hospital – Herlev and Gentofte in Denmark
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By UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE JANUARY 1, 2024
A research review in the New England Journal of Medicine highlights the growing concern over cannabis use disorder, exacerbated by increased cannabis potency and usage. This disorder, affecting a significant portion of Americans, particularly young adults, is often accompanied by other psychiatric conditions. Credit: SciTechDaily.com
Review article published in the New England Journal of Medicine finds 16 million Americans have cannabis use disorder.
The widespread use of cannabis (marijuana) and its increased potency are associated with a rise in cannabis-related psychiatric conditions, according to a new University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) review article that was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. It highlights the urgent need for doctors to screen for and treat patients who are experiencing symptoms of cannabis use disorder, which means they are experiencing significant problems from their use of the drug.
Nearly one in five Americans ages 12 and older used cannabis in 2021, according to the article, and more than 16 million met the criteria for cannabis use disorder as outlined in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Health Disorders (DSM-5-TR). Young adults ages 18 to 25 are disproportionately affected. The review found more than 14 percent of those in this age group had cannabis use disorder.
Misconceptions and Risks of Cannabis Use
“There is a lot of misinformation in the public sphere about cannabis and its effects on psychological health with many assuming that this drug is safe to use with no side effects,” said David A. Gorelick, MD, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry at UMSOM who wrote the review article. “It is important for physicians and the public to understand that cannabis can have addictive effects and to recognize signs and symptoms in order to get properly diagnosed and treated.”
A University of Maryland School of Medicine review reveals a rise in cannabis-related psychiatric conditions, urging the need for improved awareness and treatment for cannabis use disorder, especially among young adults. Credit: University of Maryland School of Medicine
Cannabis use disorder is defined as problematic marijuana use. Symptoms include craving the drug and failing to control its use despite experiencing negative side effects like problems at work or school. It is most prevalent in people who use cannabis more than four days a week. While the primary risk factors are the frequency and duration of cannabis use, having another substance use disorder or other psychiatric condition also increases the likelihood of the diagnosis.
Psychiatric Conditions and Physical Symptoms
“Almost 50 percent of people with cannabis use disorder have another psychiatric condition such as major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or generalized anxiety disorder,” said Dr. Gorelick. “It’s vital that patients seek the right psychiatric treatment to address their risk factors.”
Physical signs and symptoms of cannabis use disorder can range from yellowing of the fingertips to increased depression and anxiety while using cannabis. To be properly diagnosed by a clinician, however, patients must meet two or more criteria for cannabis use disorder as outlined by the DSM-5-TR. These include doing poorly at school or work or missing important family obligations due to cannabis use. Experiencing withdrawal symptoms or cravings for cannabis are other symptoms.
Educational Efforts and Public Awareness
Dr. Gorelick, who is also Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Cannabis Research, conducted the extensive review to educate physicians on the array of health issues that may be associated with short-term and long-term cannabis use as a growing number of individuals use cannabis products. He also aimed to heighten public awareness around cannabis user disorder, both in terms of recognizing its symptoms and understanding treatment options.
The paper also highlighted other dangers of excessive cannabis use: Cannabis use accounts for 10 percent of all drug-related emergency room visits in the U.S. and is associated with a 30 to 40 percent increased risk of car accidents. In 2022, 18 to 25-year-olds accounted for the highest rate of cannabis-related emergency department visits.
Addiction Research and Potential Therapies
“Approximately one in ten people who use cannabis will become addicted, and for those who start before age 18, the rate rises to one in six,” said Mark T. Gladwin, MD, the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and Dean, UMSOM, and Vice President for Medical Affairs, University of Maryland, Baltimore. “As use of this drug increases, we must delve deeply into basic research to understand the brain’s cannabinoid system. We must also design translational studies of therapies that target these brain mechanisms to help those with cannabis use disorder — particularly young adults and pregnant women — overcome their dependence on this drug.”