Miracle Flower

Smoking can lead to schizophrenia

Teenage cannabis users are more likely to suffer psychotic symptoms that raise the risk of full-blown mental illness in later life, claim researchers.

Adolescent drug takers interviewed for the largest study of its kind reported experiencing at least three symptoms indicating a risk of psychosis.

These included feeling like something strange or inexplicable was taking place, suspecting they were being influenced or followed and difficulty in controlling the speed of thoughts.

Frequent drug users were more at risk but even youngsters dabbling at an early stage were vulnerable.

The researchers also found taking cannabis in adolescence creates a greater risk of developing schizophrenia than using it when older.

Their findings will bolster the Government's decision last month to restore cannabis to the harsher Class B status against the advice of its own scientists.

But it will also increase dismay that the change makes no difference to the way under-18s caught with cannabis are dealt with by the police. They still only face prosecution if caught with the drug three times.

British psychiatrists have consistently expressed concerns that the drug appears to accelerate the onset of full-blown mental illness, raising fears of an epidemic of mental health problems among users in their 20s and 30s.

More than 6,000 youngsters aged 15 and 16 were involved in the research in Finland, published today in the British Journal of Psychiatry. Experts assessed which were potentially at risk of developing a psychotic disorder.

More than 5 per cent of the teenagers reported that they had used cannabis once or more; and one in 100 had used cannabis more than five times. Girls were more likely to take the drug than boys.

It was found that those who had used cannabis had a higher average number of symptoms indicating a risk of psychosis.

Dr Jouko Miettunen, who led the research at the University of Oulu in Finland, said the findings were significant because they demonstrated a link with psychosis at a very early stage of cannabis use.

He said: 'These teenagers are likely to be vulnerable to the mental effects, which means they are probably vulnerable to developing psychosis at some point.'

Dr Miettunen said psychotic symptoms were much more common than actual cases of diagnosed mental illness but the number being reported was a cause for concern.

Campaigner Debra Bell, who formed the group Talking About Cannabis after her son William started taking cannabis at 14 and ended up stealing from his parents to feed his habit, said the research was more proof of the dangers.

She said 'All parents of children who smoke cannabis know the drug can cause serious mental disturbances. This study from Finland is very interesting but why aren't we doing this research here or doing something about the findings?

'It shows the problems begin at a very early age yet teenagers tell their parents it's a safe drug. Unfortunately, like my son, they can turn around and say it won't do them any harm because the Government downgraded it, despite the evidence showing we are storing up huge problems for the future.'

The schizophrenic has received 10 years of prison for rape of the sleepwalker

In the USA the court has sentenced the homeless the man from cities Cincinnatis (state of Ohio) to 10 years of imprisonment that it has attacked the woman suffering , and has raped it.

At first 53-years it has been charged with kidnapping, a deliberate attack, attempt of violence and rape; it could receive till 46 years of prison.

On Tuesday the court has recognized guilty of rape and a deliberate attack. Other charges have been removed, informs a site to " News of America ".

According to materials of business, the 24-years victim suffers the heavy form . After a strong attack it sometimes does not understand, that with it occurs. In November witnesses have informed polices that saw how has attacked the woman gone across Cincinnati near 71-st motorway.

As informs Crimezone. 30 years suffers schizophrenia, and some times it appeared in psychiatric clinics. The lawyer of the vagabond has declared, that its client recently strongly experienced because of the diagnosis of a HIV-infection put to it. Meanwhile, psychiatric examination has shown, that during the moment of fulfilment of crime realized illegality of the act.

Deadly snake bites man's penis

A ROADSIDE toilet stop ended in pain, embarrassment and almost death for a tourist when a highly venomous snake bit the end of his penis.

The deadly brown snake slithered between his legs and lunged at his manhood as he crouched on a roadside near Laura, 300km northwest of Cairns, about a month ago.

Details of the incident only came to light yesterday after they were confirmed by a paramedic.

"It certainly had a swipe at him," an ambulance spokesman said yesterday.

"But it didn’t envenomate him.

"As it came through it must have got a bit of a shock."

The snake beat a hasty retreat, leaving its victim with a scratch, vomiting and abdomen pain.

Emergency workers raced to the scene to treat the man.

The wound was wrapped in plastic in case poison had penetrated the skin but medical staff gave the man the all-clear after conducting tests.

He was taken to Cooktown Hospital where he spent a night recovering.

The ambulance spokesman described him as "lucky", given his near encounter with one of Australia’s most poisonous snakes.

"I think he was a bit shocked and embarrassed," he said.

The popular myth about oral sex is discredited

The American researchers have denied ordinary concept that oral caress are widespread among teenagers more, than copulation is direct, is spoken on site NewMedical.net. Earlier was considered, that it occurs because teenagers consider oral sex in the way of conservation of virginity.

from American scientific research institute Guttmacher considers: verifications to that the majority of the teenagers, earlier not entered intimate communications, were engaged thus in oral sex with different partners, no. It has noted, that replacement with teenagers sex oral as a way of conservation of virginity – simply myth.

The interrogation lead by institute Guttmacher, has shown, that from 10 thousand all interrogated teenagers (virgins) 54 % of minor girls and 55 % of young men were engaged in oral sex, but thus such kind of sex more were preferred by those who any more were not virgins.

Predilection for oral sex with the years increases: from 15 till 17 years 42 % of percent of girls, and in the age of 18-19 years already 72 % were engaged in it. Among the teenagers already having sexual experience, at least, of 80 % were engaged in oral sex. However, as have shown new researches, this percent does not exceed thus quantity of classical copulations.

One of everyone of 10 interrogated teenagers has admitted, that tried and sex, but thus was engaged as well as in sex.

As it was informed earlier, in the USA one of four girls-teenagers is infected at least by one venereal disease. , summing up new research, has declared, that data of interrogations testify to the incorrect rate of the American government directed on sexual education of teenagers. Teenagers are still illiterate in questions of an intimate life. And it in turn leads to growth of quantity of the diseases transferred sexual by.

TOILET THEME RESTAURANT

In the USA the dog has received a degree of the bachelor

The one-year-old golden retriever on nickname Jim has received the diploma of Northern University of Ohio in the USA, inform local mass-media.

According to the president of university of Kendal, it is the case first in history when the educational institution awards the diploma to an animal.

JIM has received a scientific degree of the bachelor for development of skills of care by invalids and older people - it is able to carry an invalid armchair, to open doors and to lift the fallen off subject matters, transfers RIA of "News".

The young retriever belongs to the local organization free-of-charge giving four-legged assistants by that who requires them.