Marijuana Use in Adolescence Associated with Adult Depression

High school students who use marijuana are at higher risk for drug abuse and other problems as adults, and it may have something to do with the physical aspects of adolescent brains, according to two new studies.

The first study done by Australians followed 1943 people from age 15 to 24 years old. Those who used marijuana were more likely to become dependent on drugs, tobacco, and illegal drugs as adults, and less likely to go to college. Marijuana use in high school also predicted psychosocial problems in adulthood.

The second study , this time from McGill University in Canada, found that laboratory animals exposed to marijuana in adolescence developed symptoms of anxiety and depression as adults. Dr. Gabriella Gobbi, lead author, found that marijuana actually altered two brain chemicals that regulate mood and anxiety in these laboratory rats. Even those rats who were taken off marijuana still had measurable differences in their levels of serotonin and nonrepinephrine.

"Our study is one of the first to focus on the role of biological mechanisms at the root of this influence of cannabis on depression in adolescence," according to Dr. Gobbi, whose study appears in the journal Neurobiology of Disease.
 

Marijuana Use in Adolescence Associated with Adult Depression is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

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Drug Court Shows Positive Results, But Further Research Needed

For drug offenders and substance abusers with a non-violent record, drug court can mean a choice: admit guilt, and go into closely monitored substance abuse treatment; or deny guilt and head straight to incarceration. Drug courts are designed to help end the cycle of repeated offenses by offering substance abuse treatment for offenders with non-violent crimes. A report from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), part of the U.S. Department of Justice, suggests the courts have made positive strides – but further research is needed to determine their overall effects.

Meant to focus on addiction-based problems for offenders as part of the nation’s attack on drugs, drug courts were established in the 1980s. The Department of Justice says people who abuse drugs are more likely to return to the crime than any other offender, and that once they reach parole, about two-thirds of drug offenders will abuse drugs again or be found in possession.

While an offender is participating in a drug court program, there is a suspension of charges. These charges can ultimately be modified or even dismissed, determined by the offender’s participation in the drug court program. Proponents say the programs work because they lessen the chances that the offender will return to old habits, using recovery-based measures – even for offenders with repeated drug-related crimes.
 

The report from the NIJ says that recidivism rates were reduced through drug court programs, though it is unknown exactly which aspects of the program had the strongest effect. The report also recommends that treatment be focused on substance abuse theories, and that it should allow program participants to learn cognitive-based strategies for working through recovery. Past participants of drug court have said one-on-one interaction with the judge has made a significant impact on their success.

The report also recommends that all members of a participant’s drug court team be involved with plans for treatment, types of service delivered and reports of results. The NIJ suggests that teams learn more about addiction practice and treatment, especially toward helping participants avoid relapse, in order to offer the most benefit for the program.

When it comes to helping teens and young adults with a history of substance abuse problems, the NIJ report indicated that more exploration is needed to find out whether intervention-based approaches are more effective at reducing drug offenses, or if the focus of drug court efforts should be on preventative measures.

In terms of cost savings, the report indicated that approximate cost per participant was $5,928 over a timeframe of 30 months, but came with savings totaling more than $2,300 in additional costs from within the criminal system, and an additional $1,301 in potential costs toward victimization services.

Drug Court Shows Positive Results, But Further Research Needed is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

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GBL Withdrawal Should Be Medically Monitored

The withdrawal from any addictive drug can be life threatening, especially if the withdrawal occurs outside of a certified doctor’s care. According to a recent Medical News Today report, this is especially true if the individual is trying to overcome an addiction to GBL.

GBL is a popular party drug that is often a preferred substance among the party crowd in the UK. Addiction to the drug can be swift and the withdrawal process can be severe, requiring extensive medication and monitoring. GBL (gamma butyrolactone) is an industrial solvent used to degrease engines, remove stains, and strip wood. In the body it changes to GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate), a potent central nervous system depressant.

Dr. James Bell is the head of the party Drugs Clinic at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. He believes that withdrawal from GBL should be viewed as a medical emergency.

Bell has conducted extensive research into GBL dependence and withdrawal, even writing a report on the subject. In this report, Bell argues that “round-the-clock” users can experience life-threatening situations when withdrawing from GBL. As a result, these individuals need immediate treatment that uses appropriate medications.

This is a key focus for Bell as health care professionals seem to be well aware of the dependence and withdrawal issues that surround drugs such as heroin and alcohol. It is often assumed that party drugs do not have the same addictive qualities and therefore the withdrawal process is often not monitored or medicated.

When interviewed, most of the users at Bell’s clinic downplayed the dangers associated with GBL and other party drugs. Where GBL is concerned, most users begin occasional use to achieve social confidence, facilitate sexual activity and to treat insomnia. Occasional use quickly develops into around the cloud dependence that requires treatment to overcome.
 

GBL Withdrawal Should Be Medically Monitored is a post from: Drug Addiction Treatment

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