My
reason for writing today is to share with my Fenwick family some
concerns that several members of the mental health care community,
including myself, have felt compelled to be outspoken about lately,
given the recent direction taken by lawmakers regarding the legalization
of recreational marijuana.
Stated simply, marijuana
is not the benign substance that many in the media and the legislature
have made it out to be. Its effects can be quite devastating, and as it
becomes more readily available, we anticipate a significant rise in the
medical and social problems that are connected to regular marijuana use.
For example, the American Academy of Family Practice recently cited
several studies that link marijuana to the development of schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia
is a long-term mental disorder involving a breakdown in the relation
between thought, emotion and behavior, leading to faulty perception,
inappropriate actions and feelings, withdrawal from reality and personal
relationships into fantasy and delusion, and a sense of mental
fragmentation.
These studies indicate that regular
marijuana users are six times more likely to develop and exhibit
schizophrenic symptoms.
These same studies also point to decreased
motivation, increased lethargy and a lack of focus and mental clarity
that persists beyond the time that a user is "high." Other studies point
to a correlation between marijuana use and reproductive difficulties,
particularly in males. These studies indicate that regular male users of
marijuana have an exceptionally high risk of developing erectile
dysfunction (ED), and that medications such as Viagra and Cialis are
ineffective in treating marijuana-induced ED symptoms.
Even
though full recreational marijuana use laws do not go into effect in
Illinois until Jan. 1, we are already seeing the results of a more
relaxed atmosphere and increased availability in our clinic, Mensah
Medical, located in Warrenville. We specialize in the natural treatment
of psychological, cognitive, and neurological health disorders. We
identify the biochemical imbalances that most frequently contribute to
those disorders and prescribe nutrient therapy to overcome those
imbalances.
Of late, we are seeing a significant
increase in the number patients with schizophrenia, and far too often,
those patients indicate that their symptoms started or worsened as they
began or increased their use of marijuana. It is important to note that
the vast majority of these patients are young males between the ages of
18 and 27.
We certainly recognize that there is
another side to this debate. We are aware that many people have used
marijuana for years with few obvious or lasting side effects. We
acknowledge that there are medical cases, such as cancer and chronic
disease, in which controlled, physician-monitored use may make marijuana
a viable and effective pain-management option. We also recognize that
combatting the illegal distribution of marijuana leads to costly law
enforcement efforts and the incarceration of many non-violent offenders,
most often from communities of color or economic disadvantage. There
are reported state and local income-generation benefits that will come
from taxing what is already a robust industry.
However,
we must also take into account the social impact and the increased
strains on the health-care system that will accompany legalization. We
can look to two other "drugs," tobacco and alcohol, as a model for what
to expect with marijuana. While I am not calling for a return to
prohibition, we must acknowledge the millions of deaths each year that
are the direct result of alcohol and tobacco use, and the billions of
dollars spent each year on health care to address alcohol- and/or
tobacco-related disease or injury.
We can anticipate a similar social
and financial impact with the increased and more readily accepted
availability of marijuana.
We at Mensah Medical have
taken a very active and public stand against recreational marijuana
legalization. We have included several articles in our monthly
newsletter warning our patients, friends and colleagues of the impending
dangers ahead. I have spoken at community rallies and testified before
state and local legislatures when laws regarding legalization were being
considered. During these presentations, I have shared that while this
increase in the number of patients who must seek our help will likely be
quite profitable for our clinic, it is not the way we want to benefit
financially.
I encourage all of you to be aware and be
wary of what is to come with expanded availability and legalization of
marijuana. Talk to your children and the other young people in your
life. Know and look out for the medical and mental health concerns that
stem from marijuana use. And, if some of the more dire consequences of
marijuana use should touch you or someone close to you, know that
medical and mental health support is available.
Excellence
has always been the credo at Fenwick High School. This cannot be
achieved for future generations if judgment is impaired and drive and
determination is subdued by inappropriate substance use.
Dr. Albert Mensah is a graduate of the Fenwick class of 1982.
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