Is Cannabis Helpful For ADHD ?
Why Do People With ADHD Use Cannabis As A Coping Mechanism ?
Those with ADHD are increasingly becoming cannabis smokers, as they see it as a pain reliever, with some saying that it makes their ADHD condition less intense, this includes; anxiety, rejection sensitive dysphoria, and poor sleep even without their ADHD medication. Many youths and adults are unaware of the risk involved in smoking weed with their ADHD condition, one of these risk could potentially lead to cannabis use disorder, which is more intense on ADHD patients.
A startling number of people with ADHD use cannabis. Some studies show that people with ADHD have a significant larger share of the cannabis community, and approximately one-third of adolescents with ADHD use cannabis. Research seem to show that ADHD patients stand a higher chance of turning into weed smokers than people living their norma lives and have interest in smoking weed.
What Is ADHD ?
ADHD is a chronic condition characterized by difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. It is a common childhood disorder that can last into adulthood. It may contribute to low self-esteem, strained relationships, and academic or occupational difficulties. Some symptoms include; limited attention and hyperactivity. Medication and talk therapy are used as treatments.
It is for this reason people with ADHD turn to cannabis to turn down the effects or consequences experienced as a host of this condition.
Link Between Cannabis And ADHD
While we were having a research concerning this topic, we discovered individuals who use cannabis to treat ADHD symptoms have left comments on online health forums.
Some of these online threads or forums were studied in 2016. The researchers reviewed 286 threads, and 25% of the posts were from people who said cannabis was therapeutic.
Only 8% of posts reported negative effects, 5% found both positive and negative effects, and 2% said marijuana had no effect on their symptoms.
It’s critical to remember that these discussion boards and comments aren’t clinically significant. They are also not based on evidence-based research. That is, they should not be construed as medical advice. Consult your doctor first.
Similarly, people who identify as having ADHD report having few or negative effect with cannabis use. Many adolescents and adults with ADHD are convinced that cannabis helps them and has fewer side effects [than ADHD medications],” says author, physician, and emeritus professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco Jack McCue, MD, FACP. “It’s possible that they, rather than their doctors, are correct.”
Dr. McCue has seen patients who report traditional marijuana effects and benefits. They report intoxication (or being “high”), appetite stimulation, sleeping or anxiety relief, and pain relief, among other things.
Health Benefits Of Smoking Cannabis From ADHD Patients
- According to the limited research on what patients say cannabis does for ADHD symptoms, it is most beneficial for hyperactivity and impulsivity. “It may be less effective for inattention,” Dr. McCue says.
- Some people testified that cannabis use can be therapeutic.
- “According to demographic surveys, individuals with ADHD describe cannabis as helpful in managing inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity,” says Elizabeth Evans, MD, psychiatrist and assistant professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center.
Some Health Concerns For ADHD Cannabis Smokers
Cannabis, like many other popular substances, is widely abused. In fact, people with ADHD are twice as likely to develop cannabis use disorder (CUD), a problematic pattern of cannabis use linked to clinically significant impairment. Individuals can become mentally and chemically dependent on, and addicted to, cannabis, contrary to popular belief.
- One of cannabis’ active compounds, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), inhibits neuronal connections and effectively slows the brain’s signaling process.
- THC also has an effect on the dendrite architecture of the brain, which controls processing, learning, and overall brain health. THC’s effects are not fully understood; some parts of the brain exhibit healthy neuronal growth after cannabis use ceases, while others do not.
- Altered brain development
- Higher depression risk
- Decreased life satisfaction
- Chronic bronchitis
Conclusion
Although there may be individuals who benefit from cannabis or who are not adversely affected by it, there is considerable evidence to suggest that cannabis has less damaging effect in the treatment for ADHD.
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