Technology Blog

INTRODUCTION

            Cannabis is the abbreviated name of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. The active components are tetrahydrocannabional which is most abundant. The plant is cut, dried, chopped and rolled into cigarettes that are then smoked. It is also known as marijuana, grass, pot weed, charas, bhang, ganja, dagga and Mary Jane. The most potent part is the flowering tops of the plants or the dried black brown residous exudates of the leaves called as hash or hashish.

DEMOGRAPHIC DATA

 5% of the US population is current users of cannabis.

50% of the people between 18-25 years have used it at least once.

13% between 18-25 years and 4% between 12-17 years are current users of cannabis.

NEUROPHARMACOLOGY

 The active component is tetrahydrocannabinol.

A cannabinoid G protein receptor has been identified in the CNS.

Affects the GABBA and monoamine neurons.

Stimulate the reward centers in the brain like ventral tegmentum.

Reaches a peak in 30 minutes and action starts in 5-10 minutes.

CLINICAL FEATURES

This is dilatation of the conjunctival blood vessels (red eye) and there is tachycardia.

Increased appetite, dry mouth and orthostatic hypotension are other affects.

 Heavy cannabis users inhale hydrocarbons and are at risk of lung cancer.

Long term use can cause cerebral antrophy, seizures, birth defect, immune system abnormalities and impaired menstruation.

The users response to stimuli is heightened. Colors seem richer and brighter, reveals new details and this slows down with time.

 Depersonalization and derealization may also be seen.

 This is impaired cognition and performance in various fields.

Long term use may induce psychosis with hallucinations.

Once the short term effect of the substance has disappeared people have experienced the feeling of cannabis intoxication called as flashbacks.

A person or cannabis cannot persist in a task that needs prolonged attention. He becomes aphathetic, anergic and gaining weight and being slothful. This is called as amotivational syndrome.

Sometimes after cannabis intoxication a person may have a psychotic episode where he goes on the rampage destroying things and killing others which are called running amok.

MANAGEMENT

 Withdrawal of the drug.

Treatment of depression if needed.

Symptomatic treatment of the withdrawal symptoms.

 Individual insight oriented psychotherapy.

 Group and family therapy.

  Narcotics anonymous.

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