AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW
The following extract appears in a book by Dr Liezl Kramer and Dr Volker Hitzeroth. Dr Liezel Kramer completed an Msc in drugs and alcohol. She is currently in private practice in Cape town Dr Volker Hitzeroth completed his postgraduate training in psychiatry at the university of Stellenbosch. He completed an Msc in drugs and alcohol at the university of London. He returned to cape town where he is in private practice.
What is being stated, so far, is these sources can be relied upon due to their professional qualifications and as such I will adhere to them throughout this article.
The article is an extract from a book titled: THE END OF ADDICTION and available from BARGAIN BOOKS.
Many myths exist about dagga and its effect on the body. The majority of these assert that dagga is either completely harmless or extremely dangerous.
Neither is likely to be true, with the truth probably lying somewhere in the middle. It is difficult to give absolute medical facts onj this question, as the evidence in most studies on the effect of dagga on the human body remains inconclusive.
We know that dagga and its purported medicinal properties have been known for many centuries. These include effects on inflammation, pain, seizures, nausea and anorexia. Dagga has therefor4e been used as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-conversant, anti-emetic and appetite enhancer. Yet, numerous studies seem to implicate dagga in a number of adverse health consequences. These include respiratory inflammation, infections, cancers, cardiac effects, as well as adverse effects on human sexual functioning with a reduction in the sex hormones, sperm production and ovulation. Dagga also seems to have adverse mental consequences, particularly with early onset and regular dagga consumption. Specifically. Dagga seems to be associated with an increased risk of depression. Exposure to dagga in vulnerable individuals may lead to the development of psychosis. This may be especially r4elevant in the young and developing brain, for example, in teenagers and younger adults
Cannabis also seems to play a causal role in the development of schizophrenia. Once this risk seems to be increased in vulnerable individuals. Short term memory problems and possibly even irreversible cognitive problems have also been identified in early onset and frequent dagga users. A particular psychiatric syndrome called amotivational syndrome has been identified. This is a clinical condition in which chronic and frequent dagga users seem to develop apathy, listlessness, fatigue and tiredness, as well as anhedonia with associated decreased motivation, drive,Self care and a lack of personal hygiene, work functioning and reduction in potential.
Dagga has often been implicated as a “gateway” drug leading to other potentially more dangerous drugs. It is therefo0re supposedly the first step on the path to more problematic drug use. To proceed to other drugs is usually far more complex than a simple slide from dagga to the next illegal drug.
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