Early Life Trauma
and
CANNABIS
An Introduction…..
WEEK ONE
Firstly, we are going to ask the question:
Why consider CANNABIS alongside EARLY LIFE TRAUMA?
Is there some kind of link?
What do we already know?
We know that the regular use of CANNABIS has been closely linked to a multitude of
PERSONALITY; BEHAVIOURAL; PSYCHOLOGICAL, and NERVOUS SYSTEM effects *…
CANNABIS
*Long-term effects of marijuana use on the brain (2014) F. M. Filbey, et al. University of California Davis Centre for
Neuroscience, Sacramento, CA
We know that regular use of CANNABIS has been closely linked to VIOLENCE and VIOLENT
BEHAVIOUR*…
*O’Donnell et al. Journal of Cannabis Research (2020) Patterns and correlates of cannabis use by cumulative lifetime violence severity as
target and/or perpetrator in a community sample of eastern Canadian menhttps://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-020-00021-5
We know that regular use of CANNABIS has been closely linked to perpetration of
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE *…
*Ryan C. Shorey, Ellen Haynes, Meagan Brem, Autumn Rae Florimbio, Hannah Grigorian, and Gregory L. Stuart, “Marijuana
Use Is Associated With Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration Among Men Arrested for Domestic Violence,” Translational
Issues in Psychological Science 4, no. 1, 2018, 108–118.
We also know that CANNABIS is commonly used as a coping strategy for PTSD and
early life trauma*…
*The impact of heavy cannabis use on young people - Vulnerability and youth transitions Margaret Melrose with Penny Turner, John Pitts
and David Barrett, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, University of Bedfordshire 2007
* Effects of Marijuana on Mental Health: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Susan A. Stoner, PhD, Research Consultant (June 2017)
And we also know that regular use of CANNABIS can lead to PSYCHOSIS and PSYCHOTIC
SYMPTOMS………. But that it can also REDUCE psychotic symptoms??*……
*Ben Amar, M. (2020) Cannabis and Psychosis: A Review of the Risk Factors Involved. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 11,
1949-1990. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2020.1112139
So, over the coming four weeks, we’re going to learn about the critical links that
exist between:
• Early life trauma (ACES’s)
• Cannabis use
• The effect on relationships and career
prospects throughout life
We’ll learn what risks
exist; how to identify
them, and how to
manage and reduce them
During this first week we’re going to introduce ourselves to CANNABIS itself :
Good drug? Bad drug?
Images of Sativa and Indica cannabis plants, and the mostly
benign Ruderalis. Sativa plants tend to be large while Indica
plants are shorter and wider:
• Sativa, Indica and Ruderalis are ALL types of the hemp plant.
• Hemp has a number of useful properties that have been known
for as long as 8,000 years.
• Later, the plant became widely used in medicines in China, Egypt, and
India.
• It’s use as a recreational drug dates back to at least 2,000 BC.
• The principal chemical in the hemp plant that acts on the brain and
produces a “high” is tetrahydrocannabinol, (or THC). Because THC affects
thought processes, it is called psychoactive or psychotropic.
• In order to be classed as industrial hemp, the plant must contain no
more than 0.2% THC in the UK
• The stems contain a strong fibre from which rope, paper and cloth are
made. The fibres are of such good quality that they were once used to
make bowstrings!
• Sativa and Indica are the two major types of cannabis plants which can mix
together to create hybrid strains. Each strain has its own range of effects resulting
in a wide range of medicinal benefits.
• Indica plants typically grow short and wide, compared to Sativa plants which grow
tall and thin.
• Indica plants are better suited for indoor growing because of their short growth and
Sativa plants are better suited for outdoor growing because some strains can reach
over 25 ft. in height!
• Cannabis strains range from pure sativas to pure indicas and hybrid strains consist
of both indica and sativa (30% indica – 70% sativa, 50% – 50% combinations, 80%
indica – 20% sativa).
• Because Sativa and Indica buds have very different medicinal benefits and effects,
certain strains can be targeted to better treat specific illnesses.
Benefits of Indica:
1. Relieves body pain
2. Relaxes muscles
3. Relieves spasms, reduces seizures
4. Relieves headaches and migraines
5. Relieves anxiety or stress
Benefits of Sativa:
1. Feelings of well-being and at-ease
2. Up-lifting and cerebral thoughts
3. Stimulates and energizes
4. Increases focus and creativity
5. Fights depression
So that MUST all be
GOOD, right?
The brain and body even produce their OWN ‘CANNABINOID
RECEPTORS’, and their own internal cannabinoid ‘brain
chemical’ (neurotransmitter) named ANANDAMIDE.
The recreational drug CANNABIS just greatly exaggerates
the effect of this natural chemical found in the body.
So, what do we think about CANNABIS?
Good drug? Bad drug?
So, what do we think about CANNABIS?
Good drug? Bad drug?
Why is it a GOOD Drug?
Why is it a BAD Drug?
Actually ……. It’s a TRICK QUESTION!
IT’S NEITHER!!!
It’s just a drug……
OF ITSELF, - CANNABIS is neither GOOD nor BAD
Imagine….. If I were trapped in a locked room with a savage lion, two things
might happen….
• The lion might attack me,
• Or I might attack the lion!
On the other hand….. If I were trapped inside the same locked room with a bag
of cannabis…… absolutely NOTHING would happen……. Because I wouldn’t
smoke it……..
Cannabis, - like ANY drug, - is INERT……. It has no LIFE of its own. It cannot harm
or help me. …….It is just an unmoving, unchanging, unthreatening …… drug …..
Any DANGER or BENEFIT from CANNABIS can only be dependant on the context
of the PERSON USING IT, and the circumstances in which it is being used.
So let’s try to rephrase the question, with THIS understanding in mind….
What is the CONTEXT in which
CANNABIS is being used?
NOW we’ve opened up a WHOLE WORLD of possible questions
and answers, which will give us vital clues as to its relative
‘BADNESS’ or ‘GOODNESS’…
Now we’ll need to know:
• The AGE of the user (what stage of cognitive development?)
• The DURATION of use (how long has it been used for?)
• The FREQUENCY of use (how often has it been used?)
• The QUANTITY of use (how many joints are regularly used?)
• The PURITY of the CANNABIS being used (how much THC? Bud? Herbal? Solid?)
• The rate of METABOLISM (how long does it stay in the body?)
• What OTHER drugs or substances are being used at the same time?
• Has this person experienced any EARLY LIFE TRAUMA?
And THIS information will allow us to ASSESS POSSIBLE RISKS and also to UNDERSTAND
just how this person is likely to experience his / her world ....
NEXT WEEK we will go on to the NEXT part of our fascinating
journey…..
We will look at the only ACTIVE element involved in CANNABIS use.......
The USER of the cannabis.
• We will consider CANNABIS use in the context of ADOLESCENT COGNITIVE
DEVELOPMENT and EARLY LIFE TRAUMA
•
What factors could negatively affect cognitive development PRIOR to cannabis use?
•
What factors could THEN be adversely affected BY cannabis use?
•
We will learn HOW to assess risk
•
We will learn HOW to bring about positive change and healing