Teens risk brain damage, low IQ from weekly pot smoking

Gant Daily ^ | 8-15-2014

[Citizen Zed]

Brain imaging studies of regular marijuana users have shown significant changes in their brain structure, particularly among adolescents, Lisdahl said. Abnormalities in the brain’s gray matter, which is associated with intelligence, have been found in 16- to 19-year-olds who increased their marijuana use in the past year, she said. These findings remained even after researchers controlled for major medical conditions, prenatal drug exposure, developmental delays and learning disabilities, she added.

“When considering legalization, policymakers need to address ways to prevent easy access to marijuana and provide additional treatment funding for adolescent and young adult users,” she adivsed.

Lisdahl also recommended that legislators consider regulating levels of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the major psychoactive chemical in marijuana, in order to reduce potential neurocognitive effects.

Current treatments for marijuana addiction among adolescents, such as brief school interventions and outpatient counseling, can be helpful, said Alan Budney, PhD, of Dartmouth College.

Start Fresh Program (www.startfreshprogram.com), an alcohol and opioid addiction therapy licensed to rehab clinics by BioCorRx Inc. (OTCQB: BICX), can be considered in treating marijuana addiction. The program has two components, medication through biodegradable Naltrexone implant and life coaching.

The implant, which is embedded under the patient’s skin through a medically-supervised outpatient procedure, successfully curbs the patient’s physical cravings to alcohol and opioids. The implant prevents addicts from experiencing a euphoric high during a relapse, discouraging them from taking alcohol or prescription opioids in the future.

[Nuc 1.1]

As an aside, I wonder how many of them will wind up with the muzzies?