Cannabis use linked to testicular cancer

The regular use of marijuana or cannabis seems to increase a man’s risk for prostate cancer. This is according to study by researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington and whose results were recently published in the journal Cancer.

The study looked at 369 men who had testicular cancer and 979 cancer-free men and interviewed them on marijuana use. Data analysis showed that marijuana use is a strong risk factor in the development of testicular cancer. This is the very first study to find the association between cannabinoid use and this type of cancer.

Previous studies have identified the following risk factors:

• Genetics/family history
• Injuries to the testicles
• A childhood condition of undescended testicles

In recent years, the incidence of testicular cancer has been increasing especiallyin the US and Europe and no one knows the reason why.

According to Cancer Research UK, testicular cancer accounts for 1 to 2% of all cancers in males and occurs between the ages of 20 and 39. In the UK, 2000 cases are being reported each year. In the US, more than 8000 news cases have been reported in 2008, as well as 380 cases of death, according to the US National Cancer Institute (NIC).

There are two main types of testicular cancer (Source: NIC), namely:

Seminomas are cancer cellss that grow slowly and are sensitive to radiation therapy

Nonseminomas are different cell types that grow more quickly than seminomas and are more aggressive.

The current study showed that marijuana use is more associated with nonseminoma which is the more aggressive form of testicular cancer. Furthermore, the risk seems to be higher when cannabis used started at a very young age, e.g. younger than 18 years old.

This is rather disturbing because this is the stage when young men are wont to experiment when substances, including cannabis.

Marijuana is formally known as cannabis and comes from the leaves and flowers of the plant Cannabis sativa. Consumption of cannabis is usually through smoking. It is considered an illegal drug in many countries. The US FDA classifies cannabis under Schedule I substances because it has a very high potential for abuse and addiction.

The consumption of marijuana became popular in the 60s and 70s and this timeframe coincided with the increase in the incidence of testicular cancer. Larger studies are needed to confirm the link between cannabis use and testicular cancer.

 

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Marijuana Addiction - What Every Parent Should Know

By Lauri Starr-Jones

Marijuana is highly addictive and it is often called pot, reefer, grass, herb, weed or even Mary Jane. It is a greenish mixture of dried and shredded leaves, seeds, flowers and stems. Most people smoke this mixture by using hand rolled cigarettes, called joints, and some even call it “bongs”. Another favorite method is to make “Blunts” which are prepared by slicing cigars and then replacing the tobacco with marijuana. It is often combined with other drugs such as cocaine. Some addicts also use it to brew tea or sometime consume it, mixed with food.

An individual gets highly addicted by Marijuana, and later this addiction, limits potential. It triggers numerous psychiatric disorders, and individuals suffer from the withdrawal syndrome associated with this drug on stopping consumption. This is a real threat to the younger generation who are in search of instant happiness. Generally, parents are unaware of many teenage habits and they underestimate the threat that marijuana poses to 21st century teens.

Potency has increased many-fold as compared to what it was some decades ago. The drug that is available in the market today is quite different from what was available in the past. Much of this drug is being grown with hydroponics and fertilizers. So it is not the same drug that your uncle Eddie grew in his backyard. It is 6 times stronger than the variety that was available during the 60’s and 70’s. This increased potency regrettably increases the social and health risk and later leads to addiction. Marijuana addiction is inevitable and only detox can save the addict.

Specialists have categorized Marijuana as an addictive drug and documented it as a drug causing withdrawal symptoms when addicts try to break free from this deadly habit. Withdrawal symptom intensity is not as high as that suffered by heroin addicts, but still it is dangerous and as intensified as alcohol detoxing. Parents should know that detox is unpleasant and it could really pose a threat during recovery stages.

Symptoms of Marijuana withdrawal

Considered highly addictive and characterized as compulsive, often uncontrollable.

Tolerance- This is generally marked by the increased intake of marijuana to achieve maximum intoxication, thus diminishing the effect due to over use of the same amount of marijuana.

Insomnia- Addicts lack sufficient sleep.

Irritability- Generally related well to mood swings.

Nausea.

Lack of appetite.

Strong craving that makes the addict uncomfortable, which many individuals cannot pass through during the initial days thus causing high withdrawal symptoms. This in turn forces the individuals to consume more marijuana to reduce the withdrawal symptoms.

Abuse is so strong, that many teens are addicted to it thus making them seek residential treatment. Heavy use increases present and future psychiatric problems leading to depression and anxiety and sometimes cancer.

How to overcome the addiction

Occasional joints don’t cause much damage, but many people get addicted to it. Recreational use generally leads to addiction, and this addiction disrupts daily life. Thousands of kids are undergoing treatment in various rehabilitation centers each year.

It is not unusual for someone to seek professional help, so go ahead and seek help for your child if you see any of the above mentioned symptoms; like it is said, “A stitch in time saves nine” because the sooner the problem is dealt with, the better the ultimate result.

Concerned about your child and don’t know where to turn?
We’re here to help. www.DrugScreenYourTeen.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lauri_Starr-Jones

               

Smoking Marijuana And The Risks Of Schizophrenia

By Christian Shire

Only a philosopher could discover that the human being is completely absurd since this fact means that humanity is totally crazy. A psychiatrist could not come to that conclusion without being considered crazy.

Only a poet could listen to the inner voice of the unconscious wisdom, recognize her ignorance and feel how horrible it is to live in a place where everyone is crazy.

The cure of schizophrenia and psychosis is the total and absolute respect to the moral principles of goodness. A schizophrenic is someone who is completely dominated by the wild side of his or her conscience.

In case the patient is a murderer, one must learn how to forgive oneself, which is usually impossible to achieve since no one can forgive one’s own faults when they have caused despair and misery.

Schizophrenia is a very serious mental and psychic disease that cannot be cured because the wild side has completely dominated the human conscience. There is no human personality in the psychic sphere. This is why schizophrenics cannot recuperate their human conscience once they lose it.

However, they can learn the meaning of their actions and can regain their humanity if they are willing to endure suffering. Suffering is medicine when it gives the patient the necessary conditions that help one become sensitive.

In case schizophrenic patients are victims of other people’s cruelty, they must learn how to forgive their enemies, which is impossible because their enemies hurt them too much.

Schizophrenia is the result of human craziness, the massive craziness that governs our world, a world where terror, violence, immorality, hypocrisy, poverty and indifference coexist. This is the insane world of the crazy human being!

Psychosis is also the result of the same global insanity…

In fact, schizophrenic and psychotic patients are the biggest victims of violence and indifference.

However, they can regain their mental, psychological and emotional health through dream interpretation, even though the process is very difficult and time-consuming. Everything is difficult when we have to deal with diseases as terrible as schizophrenia and psychosis.

Time and many efforts are required, but the patients can be cured!

This is a miracle!

We can cure these horrible diseases and save the people who are affected by them today, but we must surely focus on craziness prevention from now on!

We must put an end to all the horrors of our lives, so that schizophrenia and psychosis ceases to exist in our population.

Massive psychotherapy is indispensable for humanity if we wish to save the human race and our own planet, since we have almost destroyed all the natural sources, and created an imbalance in the nature of Earth.

Unconditional and unrestricted peace, truth, wisdom, patience, piety and goodness are the cures for schizophrenia and psychosis.

Only when we become organized and everyone will be sensitive instead of being indifferent to the horrors they “don’t have the power to eliminate,” will humanity be characterized by psychological, mental and emotional health.

Prevent Depression and Craziness through the scientific method of Dream Interpretation discovered by Carl Jung and simplified by Christina Sponias, a writer who continued Jung’s research in the unknown region of the human psychic sphere.

Learn more at: www.booksirecommend.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christina_Sponias

               

Helping A Loved One Get Off Weed

By Gary Paul Evans

There are few things more damaging to a relationship than an addiction. I constantly hear from my readers that their partner’s marijuana addiction eats away at their finances, ruins the time they have to spend together and overall leaves them feeling second-best to a leafy green weed.

It is understandable that a person dealing with their partner’s marijuana addiction will feel frustrated, insecure and even angry at their partner’s unwillingness to change their ways. Unfortunately, these feelings often result in animosity and fighting rather than a solution of the problem. It takes a person of great character and patience to stay with an addict through their recovery – especially when they are not willing to admit they have a problem.

Many marijuana smokers still believe that pot is not an addictive substance. How can you convince a loved one to stop smoking marijuana when they don’t believe it’s doing them any harm? The very nature of this drug contributes to the problem; as your pot-smoking partner smokes more and more often, they tend to lose their perspective. They truly can’t see the damage they are doing to your relationship. They don’t understand the amount of time they spend smoking weed instead of doing the things you used to enjoy together. The amount of money they waste on marijuana just doesn’t seem like a big deal when they’re in their hazy, happy place.

Before approaching your loved one with your concerns, formulate a plan of action:

Educate – Have statistics to back up your claims. You can find great articles with marijuana addiction statistics in back issues of the CannabisAddicts.com website.

Articulate – For some of us, it’s just easier to say it in writing. If you have a hard time expressing the ways that your partner’s addiction affects you and your relationship together, write it down. You can either give them the list or refer to it as you speak to them about your concerns to be sure you stay on track.

Be Fair and Specific – They need to hear exactly what it is that their addiction is doing. Instead of general, negative comments such as, “You would rather smoke weed than hang out with me,” use positive phrases to explain to them HOW the addiction has changed your lives: “I miss the time that we used to spend together and I want us to have fun again, like we used to.”

Be Prepared for Resistance – The first time you broach the subject, you may not get the results you want. Understand that it may take several attempts to get your point across in a calm, rational manner. If you feel yourself becoming angry and frustrated with their seeming unwillingness to hear you out, walk away and try again later. Don’t lose your temper. This leads us to another important point…

Know Your Limits – Before approaching your partner about their marijuana addiction, you must know your own limits. If your intervention and support don’t make them quit, will you stay? Are you going to give them an ultimatum? Are you strong enough to walk away, or will you stay and put up with it if things don’t change? These are tough questions to answer, but you absolutely must know what YOU need from the relationship before you can explain that to your partner and expect them to follow suit.

If you are willing to put the effort into trying to help your partner stop smoking marijuana, I take my hat off to you. It is not an easy road and your patience will be tried over and over again. Be supportive, be strong, but don’t be afraid to take a break from it all if it all becomes too much for you.

Remember that there are resources and support systems designed to help your partner quit smoking weed; introducing them to a cannabis addiction program is the best way to show your support and help them work through the quitting process. No one expects you to do it all on your own! Visit us today at CannabisAddicts.com to get started on the road back to your happy, pot-free relationship.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Paul_Evans

               

Marijuana - Easily Accessible, But Very Dangerous

By Gabriel J. Adams

Affecting individuals of all ages, marijuana has become an easily accessible and in some social circles, easily acceptable drug known by a wide-range of nicknames and references. Marijuana may be green or gray in color, consisting of dried, shredded flowers or leaves that come from the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. While the drug is commonly smoked as a cigarette (joint), it may also appear in a pipe, bong, inside tobacco paper, or is mixed with other drugs, food, or beverages. There are more than 200 slang terms associated with marijuana, ranging from “pot,” “weed,” and “Mary Jane.”

Effects of Marijuana Abuse

There are many different parts of the body that marijuana has an effect on. The chemicals found in the drug have been known to alter sensory reactions in the brain. Also, long-term use of the drug may produce unfavorable changes in the brain. Over time, the lungs begin to show signs of respiratory damage from regular use of marijuana. As the lung tissue becomes damages, the worst cases evolve in a loss. Smoking marijuana also affects the heart rate and blood pressure of an individual. In regards to learning and functioning in society, the attention span, reaction time, and memory of a marijuana user also suffers damage, which can show at home, school, or work.

Getting Help for Marijuana Addiction

Although breaking the habit of using marijuana seems difficult since it is one of the most readily available drugs to get a hold of, it is not an impossible task. One of the main factors regarding the success of conquering a drug addiction is to have the positive support of family, friends, and others in a patient’s life.

For some, both inpatient and/or outpatient drug addiction treatment is needed to break the dependency on a drug. More than 120,000 will enter a drug treatment facility to help end marijuana addition and identify the problems that cause this sort of drug use. A big part of this process involves constant counseling. Many users develop a physical dependency on marijuana, which they perceive as their way of coping with the daily stresses of life. To locate a suitable course of action on how to eliminate marijuana addiction, contacting a physician, local clinic, or substance abuse center from the Yellow Pages is one way to start.

The author would like you to visit Marijuana Addiction And Dependency | Recovery and Relapse Prevention for Marijuana and Sitemap.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gabriel_J._Adams