Cannabis Abuse - Useful for B.Sc Nursing Students As per INC Syllabus

1. Mr.Visanth V S
Asso.Professor
IGSCON, Amethi

2. CANABINOIDS ABUSE
• Cannabis is derived from the hemp plant,
Cannabis sativa.
• The dried leaves and flowers are used for abuse.
• These products often referred as Ganja or
Marijuana.
• Other name are hash, hashish, charas, grass, pot,
weed, dagga, sinsemilla, herb, reefer, dope, boom,
gangster, kif.

3. • Cannabis produces more than 400 identifiable chemicals
of which about 50 are cannabinoids, the most active being
Δ-9- tetrahydrocannabinol .
• In India bhang, ganja is a common form , that is use
frequently at various occasions like (Holi, Shivratri ) in
which use like milk based drink called THANDAI or
typically smoked (ganja / charas) in CHILAM or mixed
with tobacco of cigarettes.
• MANOKA a dry slightly sweetish preparation consisting
of bhang paste.
Contd……..

4. Preparations

5. • The features are as follows;
• Psychological
– Person experience a feeling of
wellbeing
– Mild elevation of mood
(euphoria)
– A sense of floating in the air, a
euphoric dream-like state
– Impaired memory
– Impaired psychomotor activity
– Dream like state
– Flash back phenomena
• Physical
– Tachycardia
– Reddening of the
conjunctiva
– Dry mouth
– Respiratory tract irritation
– Increased appetite
– Tolerance can be
developed with high doses
for a long term use.
– Long-term use can give
rise to dependence.
Acute Intoxication

6. • Perceptual disturbances are common and can include
depersonalisation, derealisation, synaesthesias and
increased sensitivity to sound.
• However, hallucinations are seen only in marked to
severe intoxication.
• These are often visual, ranging from elementary
flashes of lights and geometrical figures to complex
human faces and pictures.

7. Withdrawal from cannabis appear within 24 hours , most
marked within 10 days and may persist up to 28 days.
Irritability, anger, or aggression.
Nervousness or anxiety.
Sleep difficulty (e.g., insomnia, disturbing dreams).
Decreased appetite or weight loss.
Restlessness.
Depressed mood.
Physical symptoms like abdominal pain, tremors,
sweating, fever, chills, or headache.
Fatigue ,yawning, difficulty in concentration etc..
Withdrawal Symptoms

8. • Transient or short-lasting psychiatric disorders:
• Acute Anxiety
• Paranoid Psychosis
• Hysterical Fugue-like States
• Suicidal Ideation
• Hypomania
• Schizophrenia-like State
• Acute Organic Psychosis
• Very Rarely Depression.
Complications

9. • Motivational Syndrome: Chronic cannabis use is postulated to
cause lethargy, apathy, loss of interest, anergia, reduced drive and
lack of ambition.
• ‘ Hemp Insanity’ or Cannabis Psychosis
• Other complications:
– Chronic cannabis use sometimes leads to memory impairment,
– Chronic obstructive air way disease, pulmonary malignancies,
– Alteration in both the humoral and cell-mediated immunity,
– Decreased testosterone levels,
– Anovulatory cycles,
– Reversible inhibition of spermatogenesis,
– Increased risk for the developing foetus (if taken during
pregnancy).
Contd……..

10. • History Collection
• MSE & Physical Examination
• Urine test can usually identified metabolite of
cannabinoids.
• It can also detect in head hair , pubic hair, urine,
sweat, saliva and blood of users.
Diagnosis

11. • Symptomatic treatment
• The psychiatric symptoms may require
appropriate psychotropic medication and
sometimes hospitalization.
• Total abstinence form cannabis
• Psychological measures like support, counseling
• Psychotherapy and psycho-education
• Follow-up and monitoring
Treatment