Self Medication Tragedy

My friend Eric at Classical Values tells of a self medication tragedy:

Most people who suffer from schizophrenia smoke. A lot.

This is one of those stereotypes that not only happens to be true, but there's a special reason why schizophrenics smoke:

Cigarette smoking may improve attention and short-term memory in persons with schizophrenia by stimulating nicotine receptors in the brain, according to a study by Yale School of Medicine researchers in the June issue of The Archives of General Psychiatry.

This explains not only why they smoke, but why they smoke so much more than people who don't have schizophrenia. They are engaged in self medication.

Why is this a tragedy? Read the whole thing.

And, if the subject of self medication interests you I have written a little on the subject.

PTSD and the Endocannabinoid System
Addiction or Self Medication?
A well known secret

I forgot to mention that nicotine is an anti-depressant, as is marijuana.

Cross Posted at Power and Control

LONG TERM CANNABIS USE MAY CAUSE SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESSES

LONDON TIMES/ (VIA NRO-THE CORNER):

By the end of the decade one in four new cases of schizophrenia could be triggered by smoking cannabis, scientists say. Research has suggested that regular users of the drug are up to six times more likely to develop schizophrenia, although whether the drug is the direct cause remains disputed.

The Department of Health says it is now generally agreed among doctors that cannabis is an “important causal factor” in mental illness. A study published in the journal Addiction predicts that, if the causal link between cannabis use and schizophrenia is accepted, rates of the illness will increase substantially by 2010, especially among young men.

AND CANNABIS IS NOT CONSIDERED AN ADDICTIVE NARCOTIC.

IMHO: THIS IS A GOOD REASON TO KEEP IT ILLEGAL. LONG-TERM RECREATIONAL USE IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS. THE STATE HAS AN ADDED INTEREST IN REGULATING ITS USE: SCHIZOPHRENICS CAN BE A DANGER AND BURDEN TO THE COMMUNITY.

[ASIDE: I WONDER IF A HIGH PERCENTAGE (NO PUN INTENDED) OF THE TRUTHERS AND BDS AFFLICTED LEFTIES ARE POTHEADS?]

More HERE at NEWS-MEDICAL.NET.

PROOF THAT MEXICO HAS FINALLY JOINED THE WAR ON NARCOTICS SMUGGLING:

BBC:

The number of police deaths in Mexico in incidents involving organised crime has jumped 50% this year, according to official statistics. At least 61 police officers have been killed in Mexico since the year began. The increase in police deaths follows a crackdown on drug-related violence by the Mexican government.

THIS INCREASE IS BECAUSE THE MEXICAN GOV'T IS FINALLY COUNTER-ATTACKING.

Addiction might have a genetic component, but it can no more excuse bad behavior than a diathesis for rape can excuse rape; (we would never make rape legal because most who commit it have a genetic diathesis for sexual aggression/predation. Nor would we legalize serial murder if we found a gene for a predisposition for psychopathic/sociopathological multiple homicide).

Genetic diatheses can only serve as a basis for treatment, and cannot logically argue for legalization - in my opinion. M. Friedman and M. Simon disagree - maybe one of them will weigh in...

Looking at Doctors and Drugs

Hootsbuddy's Place has a look at how doctors prescribe psychoactive drugs. Not a pretty picture. As Hootsbuddy says:

This remarkable young woman is changing the way I look at people, medicine and just about everything else.

So go read the whole thing.

Cross Posted at Power and Control and at Classical Values