Cannabis is the most used substance of abuse in the world, widespread especially among young people and especially in the 15-24 year old age group.
It is defined as a "soft drug" and is often attributed to being harmless due to the fact that it does not cause death from overdose, but it still has effects that impact health in the long term.
The most frequent consequences, and all the more frequent the younger the age at which they begin, are:
• cognitive deficits
• depression
• psychosis
• aggressiveness
• impulsiveness
• sleep disorders
The brain of younger people is a particularly vulnerable target for cannabis as it acts on the endocannabinoid system, which plays an essential role in the processes of maturation of brain circuits and modernization typical of adolescence, sometimes altering their development irreversibly.
Neural plasticity depends on whether non-coding RNA can make its long journey from nucleus to synapse. If in some subjects plasticity is able to compensate for damage, in other subjects who are genetically more fragile or made fragile by environmental conditions, the brain's ability to "self-repair" may not be enough to guarantee correct cognitive development.
The most recent studies carried out on tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have shown that the most important aspect is the age at which it was taken.
Precisely in relation to this very important factor, the damage is even greater if the intake occurs by a pregnant mother. Cannabinoids cross the placenta passing into breast milk: exposure during pregnancy and in the first months is very harmful because it alters the baby's brain circuits and her behavior, with a long-term negative impact on cognitive development.
Valentina Carlile - Osteopath expert in Osteopathy applied to voice and speech disorders since 2002. For information and reservations visit the page Contacts