In spite of continued claims by marijuana proponents that the drug is harmless, researchers keep finding ways that it harms the body. A new study from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia using imagining technology has found visible damage in the developing brains of teenagers who are heavy marijuana smokers.The affected areas of the brain are involved in memory, attention, decision-making, language and executive functioning skills.
During the study, 14 heavy marijuana users who were patients at a drug treatment center were give a special type of magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI). The diffusion tensor imaging scan measures water movement throught brain tissues.
"The abnormal patterns of water diffusion that we found among the young men with histories of marijuana use suggest damage or an arrest in development of the myelin sheath that surrounds brain cells," said study leader Manzar Ashtari, Ph.D., in a news release. "Myelin provides a coating around brain cells similar to insulation covering an electrical wire. If myelin does not function properly, signaling within the brain may be slower."
Cognitive Function Impaired?
The authors of the study conclude that early-onset substance abuse may alter the development of white matter circuits, especially those connections among the frontal, parietal and temporal regions of the brain. This abnormal development could slow information transfer in the brain and affect cognitive functions.
Ashtari noted that the study does not claim that marijuana use causes the brain abnormalities, but "our study shows that heavy cannabis use is associated with damage in those brain regions."
"...our work reinforces the idea that the adolescent brain may be especially vulnerable to risky behaviors such as substance abuse, because of crucial neural development that occurs during those years," Ashtari said.
Related Information:
Photo: BigStockPhoto.com
Another great source for readers about the adolescent brain and addiction based on these new brain imaging technologies (MRI, PET, SPECT), is hbo.com/addiction. This site is a wealth of information and produced by HBO in collaboration with the NIAAA, NIDA and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Sounds like another crock to me. To begin with, “14 heavy marijuana users who were patients at a drug treatment center” doesn’t sound like a large enough base to say much of anything. Why only 14? Chances are, the other normal MRI scans were tossed, so Manzar could cherry-pick the ones most likely to result in continued NIDA funding. It’s as objective as phrenology or inkblot interpretation.
“Errors and distortions in Partnership propaganda have been widely noted by drug policy experts, but the public knows little of these deceptions. A Partnership ad stated that marijuana users showed the same brain wave pattern as someone in a coma. That statement was incorrect. When challenged, a Partnership spokesperson acknowledged, “We kind of got left standing bare naked on the ice with that one.” (Richard L Miller, Drug Warriors and their Prey, 1996, pgs.27-28) Just one example.
We’re arguing about Marijuana, a substance that has killed less people then alcohol. I’m not denying that there’s disadvantages, hell, there’s disadvantages to many drugs, whether they’re an illegal narcotic or legal, but that doesn’t mean it should be illegal. I’m sure if you dig deep enough on the mothers against drunk driving site, you’ll find a similar study done towards alcohol, the substance that can do no wrong. I’m a full time college student. For the most part, I do weed to relax and sleep at home. Why should I be stopped from enjoying what I like, especially when the law enacted was a racist white supremacist law in the first place? I’m not a pot activist. I normally don’t post things like this, but I just wanted people to know that there are millions of normal people who don’t constantly push as hard as they possibly can for legalization, just like I’m sure there were people who just drank during prohibition.
I don’t see why people love weed so much. I find getting high pretty boring and not very interesting. Beside weed is for european hippie men. An american okie man should only worry himself with some white lightening which is the greatest thrill of all.
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