NCJ Number
124198
Date Published
1989
Length
259 pages
Annotation
This book reviews marijuana use and abuse, its characteristics and effects, diagnosis of marijuana dependency, and the treatment and prevention of marijuana abuse.
Abstract
An overview of marijuana use and abuse considers the forms and types of marijuana, the history of marijuana use, current use patterns, and controversies surrounding public policy on marijuana use. A chapter on cannabinoid pharmacology concludes that in general the psychoactive components of marijuana exert an overall depressive effect on the central nervous system, with some paradoxical stimulatory components. A discussion of the medical problems associated with marijuana use notes that the most pronounced effects are on the respiratory system, for the most part resulting from the direct action of marijuana smoke on lung tissues. A chapter on psychiatric problems associated with marijuana use describes the following types of reactions: causative, exacerbating, self-medicating, acute, delayed onset, and withdrawal. Other psychological problems discussed are motivational syndrome, aggression, and depersonalization. A discussion of the diagnosis of marijuana dependency is followed by a chapter on the laboratory detection of marijuana use. A review of the fundamentals of treatment covers the medical history and the physical exam, detoxification, treatment program elements, and counseling and followup. A discussion of prevention measures focuses on family and community efforts. Appended supplementary information, chapter references, and subject index.