Cannabis Use A Burden On Society? A Cross-Sectional Study On Socio-Demographic Data, Motivational Factors And Pattern Of Cannabis Use In Indian Population.

Dr Devi Singh; Dr Varun Singh

Volume : VIII, Issue : III, March - 2019

Cannabis Use A Burden On Society? A Cross-Sectional Study On Socio-Demographic Data, Motivational Factors And Pattern Of Cannabis Use In Indian Population.

Dr Devi Singh, Dr Varun Singh

Abstract :

Background: Cannabis use has been historically associated with Indian population, various effects of cannabis are described including therapeutic use and side effects. This study shows motivational factors and pattern of cannabis use in Indian population. Materials and method: Study includes 60 cases , who sought psychiatric help. Patients were divided into two groups, 30 cannabis users and 30 non– cannabis users, proforma contained details regarding socio–demographic variables, dose and duration of cannabis use and motivational factors was filled. Four psychological tools were used for evaluation. Results: on compå two groups of cannabis users and non–users, cannabis users were subdivided on the basis of clinical presentation into two groups, paranoid schizophrenia type and manic depressive psychosis type. Pleasure and intoxication are the major motivational factors to cannabis use. 50 % of subjects were bhang users. Chronic use of bhang for an average period of 11 years could result into schizophrenia like symptomatology (26.7) and equally MDP– like symptomatology (30 %). Conclusion: cannabis use causes spectrum of psychiatric conditions including, paranoid schizophrenia, MDP, tangential thinking, circumstantiality and many other, that is why it is important to understand motivational factors and its demographic data in our population so that efforts can be made to eradicate cannabis abuse