Research Proposal
Mayra A. Palencia
The City College of New York
Abstract
Cannabis use has been increasing in today’s age with there being a push to legalize cannabis for recreation use but studies have shown that there is a possibility that cannabis can be linked to schizophrenia. This research proposal looks at both sides of a scientific argument where some research believe there is a linkage, and others believe that cannabis does not bring the onset of schizophrenia. There isn’t sufficient data that leans towards one side, but the article , “Does Marijuana Use Cause Schizophrenia” by Benedict Carey, published in Jan 17, 2019 published in the New York Times illustrates the arguments that these scientist are making.
Research Proposal
Schizophrenia is known to be a debilitating mental disorder, where till this day we don’t have much information about it. According to The American Psychiatric Association, schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that has an effect on how a person thinks, feels and behaves, and sadly, there is no cure for this disorder. There is still a lot of research being done on this disorder because we are not very certain as to what causes this disease, especially when both men and women are affected with it equally. Researchers have linked schizophrenia to the usage of cannabis, and believe it can cause a person to develop schizophrenia faster if they are heavy cannabis users. Some researchers believe this is a risk factor, and others disagree with this idea as well. For my research paper I would like to express that there is a linkage between schizophrenia and the use of cannabis, especially in young adults who can be more predisposed if they’re consuming marijuana at a stage where their brains have not yet developed fully, which ultimately leads to this mental disorder.
Under most laws, we recognize that young people are considered adults at 18, and majority of our body and height is developed around that age, but our brain reaches maturity around the age of 25. This can be alarming when adolescents and young adults are using recreational drugs, especially at a time where marijuana is being used for medical reason, and different states and countries are changing their strict laws on marijuana. In psychology there exists a theory that is used to explain the onsets of disorders. The diathesis-stress model is “the theory that mental and physical disorders develop from a genetic or biological predisposition for that illness (diathesis) combined with stressful conditions that play a precipitating or facilitating role” (American Psychological Association). Using this model, we can see how the consumption of cannabis can increase the onset of schizophrenia.
In the New York Times article, “Does Marijuana Use Cause Schizophrenia” by Benedict Carey, published in Jan 17, 2019 discusses the two different perspectives scientists have on this topic. Carey states that there isn’t a strong enough evidence to support a side in this argument, and scientist who specialize in marijuana are divided on this matter. Scientist argue that the debate centers between correlation and causation. This is because people who have psychotic episodes often use cannabis regularly which has been backed by many studies. We just don’t know which came first. Was it the cannabis habits, or was there psychoses episodes first? In the case of adolescents, the same is applied and usually if a child starts to consume cannabis, and develop schizophrenia, they become heavy marijuana users and use other substances like alcohol and cigarette. Carey positions that this makes it difficult for researchers to see what the causation of schizophrenia is. I do agree with him on this aspect because a person may not just smoke marijuana, they can also use other substances that can also possibly increase the risk, and the more risk factors then more likely it will bring the onset of the disease.
Scientist don’t know a lot about the underlying biology of psychotic conditions, but there is evidence that there is a form of biological mechanism when it comes to schizophrenia. Psychotic disorder usually tends to arise in late adolescent/ early adulthood, where there is rapid brain development. At this type synaptic pruning is accruing where unneeded connection between the brain and cells are being “clipped”. This happens in the prefrontal cortex where thinking and planning occur, it is also the region that is connected to psychotic conditions. An increase in schizophrenia risk from cannabis because it engages synaptic pruning. The prefrontal cortex is rich with CB1 receptors which is what is involved with the pruning, cannabis turns these receptors on and can cause an alternation in the pruning process as stated by research done at the Broad Institute of M.I.T and Harvard. They also found that people with this disorder also often have a gene that accelerates the pruning process. This leads researchers to believe that there is a linkage between cannabis and schizophrenia.
Even though scientist don’t know the exact connection to what is causing schizophrenia, I believe we are getting closer to different risk factors that are contributing to it onset, and cannabis is a risk factor. With more research and education, we will soon be able to know if there is a link, as of now I believe we have enough evidence to say that there is a possibility. It is also very important to know more about this topic since more states and countries are legalizing it for recreational use, and if there is a link we have to better educate our self so people that predisposed to this mental illness can be treated properly for it.
References
American Psychiatric Association. Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). Retrieved October 23, 2019, from https://dictionary.apa.org/diathesis-stress-model.
American Psychiatric Association. What Is Schizophrenia? (n.d.). Retrieved October 17, 2019, from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/schizophrenia/what-is-schizophrenia
Carey, B. (2019, January 17). Does Marijuana Use Cause Schizophrenia? Retrieved October 17, 2019, from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/17/health/cannabis-marijuana-schizophrenia.html
