Parents Across the World Join In Effort to Expose Mental Disorders Caused by Marijuana
The National Institute on Drug Abuse Adds Warning of Major Depressive Disorders (MDD’s) Experienced by Marijuana Users

   Since 1979, Joyce Nalepka has interacted with parents whose children were severely affected by marijuana use. The problems presented as depression, schizophrenia, and other psychiatric disorders causing severe behavior problems. At one point, over 150 parents gathered in Washington, D. C. only to hear a brain researcher downplay their concerns.

   Parental observations and experience drove them on to find answers. Though all the evidence is not in, it is long past-time that we have a national warning to guide parents in preventing and intervening in illicit drug use,” said Nalepka, President, Drug-Free Kids: America’s Challenge.

   The National Institute of Drug Abuse has just issued such a warning in “Research Findings” published in NIDA Notes that, given the marijuana epidemic in America, should be on the front pages of every publication in the country! Unfortunately, it wasn’t! (An excerpt follows.)

   “One of the challenges of research into co-occurrence of substance abuse and mental disorders—is determining the order in which these disorders occur and the factors they share. Recent findings from a longitudinal study that followed more than 700 individuals from early childhood into their late twenties now confirms one sequence of events in the co-morbidity conundrum. Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Columbia University provide evidence that substance abuse significantly predicts the later occurrence of psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD), alcohol dependence, and substance use disorders (SUDs). Moreover, their findings suggest that there are common risk factors for both substance abuse and MDD and that, once abuse begins, it becomes an additional risk factor for MDD.”

   “Overall, alcohol and substance abuse during the early years was significantly related to later psychiatric disorders, even after we statistically controlled for age, sex, parents’ education level, family income, and episodes of prior psychiatric symptoms. The cumulative frequency of substance abuse from childhood throughout early adulthood is strongly associated with episodes of MDD, alcohol dependence, and SUD’s in the late twenties,” said Dr. David Brook, project researcher.

   Today, there are over 30 published papers linking marijuana to schizophrenia or other mental disorders. The increase in evidence is likely due to the increased potency of marijuana. A review by the British Lung Association says that the cannabis available on the streets today is 15 times more powerful than the joints being smoked three decades ago. (In 1979, marijuana contained 10mg Tetrahydracannabinol (Delta-9 THC-the ingredient in marijuana that initiates the “high.”) Today, we are seeing pot with up to 150 mg THC, or 15 times more potent. “Commonsense tells us this will increase damage and health risks,” says Drug-Free Kids’ Vice-President, Carolyn Burns.

   Dr. Robert DuPont, founding Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) adds: “Marijuana use worsens, and in some cases precipitates, severe mental illnesses from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder to panic disorder. Furthermore, marijuana use leads to more teenagers entering drug treatment than does the use of all other drugs combined, including alcohol. The key to thinking clearly about marijuana is to recognize that marijuana, far from being harmless, is this country’s most dangerous drug!” (Dr. DuPont can be reached at 301-231-9010)

   At least seven nations, including the United States, U.K., Sweden, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia have released data linking marijuana to schizophrenia, depression, and other disorders.

   Parents are crying out for help. Unfortunately, those who would legalize drugs have clouded the issue with arguments supporting drug use, putting children at greater risk. It’s time for ALL members of the media to issue this important warning. 

   On behalf of America’s children we challenge the media to step up to the plate!