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Some might say that marijuana is not a dangerous drug overall.
But new research released today suggests that it can have a profound negative impact on the development of the adolescent brain, and maybe even predispose one to schizophrenia.
With the drinking age at 21, many teens turn to marijuana as a way to get high. And many would argue, that given the two evils, marijuana is a lesser one. That can be debated at length, but consider the new research which shows that adolescents who are heavy pot smokers have visual changes on their brain scans--showing diminished development in key areas, which are important for higher level thinking.
Dr. Sanjeev Kumra, a researcher at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, says, “This is a fiber involved in language development that this is an area where there is growth and developing in late adolescence. They are becoming stronger as people get older.”
Actually, those areas are supposed to be getting stronger.
“During adolescents a number of different cognitive functions are continuing to grow and improve.We know the type of essay you can write at grade 9 is very different than the type of essay you can write in college. There must be parts of the brain that are growing that allow you to be able to think more in abstract terms to be able to use inferential thinking,” says Dr. Kumra.
But with heavy pot smoking, there’s now visual evidence this and other key parts of the brain may very well be damaged—perhaps permanently.
Research presented at the Radiological Society of North America’s Annual Meeting shows that heavy use of marijuana may be putting adolescents at risk for delayed development of an important area of the brain--in the language area.
It’s here--in the region of the arcuate fasiculus--fasiculus referring simply a bundle of nerve fibers which is now seen to be affected significantly by pot smoking.
The researchers compared the brains of non pot smoking kids to heavy smokers. They actually created an average brain of each group using a technique called diffusion tensor imaging.
“And then we subtract those two images to see where the brains are different. And that’s where we end up with these sort of orange blobs which tell us what these forebrains regions are different in those who smoke cannabis compared to the healthy individuals who don’t smoke cannabis,” says Dr. Kumra.
The researchers found the abnormalities were the same as those found in schizophrenics.
And when they looked at schizophrenics who smoked pot, the abnormalities were even more pronounced.
So in addition to interfering with normal brain development, heavy marijuana use in adolescents may also lead to an earlier onset of schizophrenia in those predisposed to the disorder.
“People who think that marijuana a is a safe drug or a benign drug, we have evidence that that may not be true and even more so for the adolescents who are at risk for schizophrenia. This may be a very dangerous drug for them to be using,” Dr. Kumra argues.
Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug. Over 25 million individuals used it in 2003. Around 17 to 22 percent of high school students smoke pot at least on a monthly basis.
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Psychiatrist
Dr. Richard J. Frances
Empowered Doctor Medical Board
510 East 86th Street, Apt. 1D
New York,
New York
10028
Call (212) 861-0570
Dr. Richard Frances, MD, F.A.C.P., F.A.P.A. is the current director of public and professional education at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, Connecticut and has his own private practice in Manhattan. He was appointed as the Clinical Professor of Psychiatry in the Division of Substance Abuse of the Department of Psychiatry. His past credentials include being the president and medical director at the Silver Hill Hospital.
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Find Chiropractic Back Doctor Centereach, Long Island
Dr. Daniel Crews DC Dr. Kathryn Crews, DC
Advanced Back Solutions
267 East Main St, Suite B4
Smithtown,
NY
11787
Call (888) 819-8088
Do you have so much back pain that it's difficult getting up the morning without feeling extreme pain that lasts throughout the day? It might be time to examine some other options such as finding a chiropractic back doctor like Dr. Kathryn Crews, DC and Dr. Daniel Crews, DC of Advanced Back Solutions near Centereach, Long Island.
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Herniated Disc West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County
Dr. Matthew Symons
Florida D.I.S.C.
1011 North State Rd. 7 Suite D
Royal Palm Beach,
Florida
33411
Call (888) 240-5922
Is pain from a herniated disc so excruciating that simply standing or walking is becoming a challenging chore? Then you need to get your normal life back by receiving quality treatment immediately. In West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Dr. Matt Symons is qualified to deliver treatment that is successful in providing you long-term relief as well as a return to a normal and functional life. When it comes to quality results, his approach speaks for itself.
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Sciatica West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County
Dr. Matthew Symons
Florida D.I.S.C.
1011 North State Rd. 7 Suite D
Royal Palm Beach,
Florida
33411
Call (888) 240-5922
Is Sciatica proving to be so unbearable that you've run out of hope for the right treatment? Don't worry; Dr. Matthew Symons has already helped many patients who've been in your position, which means you're no exception. Located in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Dr. Symons is there to utilize his effective chiropractic techniques, including spinal decompression therapy, to help reduce your suffering.
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Chief of Sports Medicine & Arthroscopy
Dr. Howard Luks
Empowered Doctor Medical Board
19 Bradhurst Ave. Ste 1300N
Hawthorne,
NY
10532
Call (888) 834-8517
Dr. Howard J. Luks, MD is the Chief of Sports Medicine & Arthroscopy at Westchester Medical Center and New York Medical College. He is also an attending Orthopaedic Surgeon at Westchester Medical Center, concentrated in sports medicine and arthroscopy. He is an Assistant Professor in both the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Department of Medicine at New York Medical College. He was a Guest Lecturer in Pharmacology and an Instructor in Anatomy and Histology at New York Medical College.
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Disc Degeneration West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County
Dr. Matthew Symons
Florida D.I.S.C.
1011 North State Rd. 7 Suite D
Royal Palm Beach,
Florida
33411
Call (888) 240-5922
Is pain caused by disc degeneration proving to be too much to handle? Well, here's the help you have been looking for. In West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Dr. Matt Symons has both the qualifications and clinical expertise to deliver effective treatment that will give you a better handle of your own condition and of your life. His specialized chiropractic techniques are so effective in granting considerable pain relief that you won%u2019t leave his office without feeling helped.
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Stereotactic Radiosurgery Westchester, New York
Neurological and Spine Surgery Associates, P.C.
Neurological and Spine Surgery Associates, P.C.
19 Bradhurst Ave., Ste. 2800
Hawthorne,
NY
10532
Call (888) 766-1480
Stereotactic Radiosurgery is a highly accurate form of radiation therapy used for the treatment of brain tumors. It is very important to see a well trained professional once you have decided to undergo this procedure. If you think that Radiosurgery is something you are interested in, Neurological and Spine Surgery Associates, P.C. of Westchester, New York, can answer all of your questions and address all of your concerns.
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Mammography/ Mammogram Ridgefield, Fairfield County, Connecticut
Ridgefield Diagnostic Imaging
Ridgefield Diagnostic Imaging
901 Ethan Allen Highway
Ridgefield,
CT
06877
Call 888-610-2705
Breast cancer is a concern of women everywhere and it's important to have regular check ups and exams to ensure breast and overall health. Having a mammogram is an essential part of regular medical upkeep for women to detect lumps in the breast that may affect health. At Ridgefield Diagnostic Imaging in Fairfield County, Connecticut, doctors can easily accommodate most busy schedules with same day and next day appointments.
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MRI Center Manhattan, NYC
Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging | General Radiology Services
Lawrence Hospital Center | Outpatient Services
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville,
NY
10708
Call (888) 837-8158
Your MRI Center/Brain scan Center needs the expertise of a seasoned professional like the doctors at Lawrence Hospital Medical Imaging Center. Lawrence Hospital Medical Imaging Center in the Manhattan, NYC metro area offers a variety of Medical Imaging services. For quality medical imaging
services includign MRI and Brain Scan in Manhattan, NYC area the Lawrence Hospital Medical Imaging Center.
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Vascular Surgery
Dr. Pravin M. Shah
Empowered Doctor Medical Board
83 South Bedford Road Suite 100
Mount Kisco,
NY
10549
Call (888) 547-1437
Pravin Shah MD, FACS is a Vascular Surgeon.
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Chiropractic Fairfield, Connecticut
Dr. Adrian Marcus
Back & Neck Pain Center of Greenwich, P.C.
100 Melrose Ave # 101
Greenwich,
CT
06830
Call (888) 847-1821
Are you tired of the back or neck pain that has been plaguing you for so long? If so, you should visit Dr. Adrian Marcus at the Back & Neck Pain Center of Greenwich, P.C. in Fairfield, Connecticut. There, you will be able to put a stop to the pain. A group of medical professionals from different educational and career backgrounds will diagnose your specific problem and then decide what the best course of chiropractic treatment to take is.
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Tennis Elbow/Shoulder Pain Manhattan, NYC
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Lawrence Hospital Center | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville,
NY
10708
Call (888) 729-2857
Suffering from tennis elbow or shoulder pain? At Lawrence Hospital Medical Imaging Center located in Manhattan, NYC area can provide you with a CAT Scan that will allow your tennis elbow/shoulder pain to be correctly diagnosed so that you will receive the proper treatment.
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Bariatric Surgeon
Elliot Goodman, MD
Empowered Doctor Medical Board
Beth Israel Medical Center 6th Floor 1st Ave & 16th St
NYC,
NY
10003
Call (888) 351-8607
Dr. Elliot Goodman is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and a Board Certified General Surgeon. Dr. Goodman and his staff treat each patient as an individual and design a treatment regimen that reflects the individuality of the patient.
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Laser Spine Surgery Houston, Texas
US Imaging, Inc.
US Imaging, Inc.
2525 W Bellfort St. #120
Houston,
TX
77054
Call 888-834-5028
When the pain in your back is driving you insane, keeping you from sleeping, making you hesitate to pick up your children or grandchildren, you know that surgery may be the best option. At US Imaging, Inc. in Houston, Texas, laser spine surgery can help you get back to the life you used to have.
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Integrative Medicine Connecticut
Associates in Family Chiropractic & Natural Health Care, P.C.
Associates in Family Chiropractic & Natural Health Care, P.C.
156 East Avenue
Norwalk,
CT
06851
Call (203) 242-0165
Want to boost your health? At Associates in Family Chiropractic & Natural Health Care, P.C. of Norwalk, Connecticut, you can find numerous and diverse options to making you feel and look better. Their system of integrative medicine includes holistic, natural and modern medicine to get you back on your feet where you are feeling your best.
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CT /CAT SCAN Manhattan, NYC
Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging | General Radiology Services
Lawrence Hospital Center | Outpatient Services
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville,
NY
10708
Call (888) 837-8158
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Spine Surgery Westchester, New York
Neurological and Spine Surgery Associates, P.C.
Neurological and Spine Surgery Associates, P.C.
19 Bradhurst Ave., Ste. 2800
Hawthorne,
NY
10532
Call (888) 766-1480
The New York Medical College and the Westchester Medical Center are both top tier medical facilities when it comes to carrying a staff of exceptional neurosurgeons. The team of medical professionals at Neurological and Spine Surgery Associates has both the credentials and the careful precision to deliver exceptional surgery that will leave you feeling safe and comfortable in the process.
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Integrative Medicine Fairfield, Connecticut
Dr. Adrian Marcus
Back & Neck Pain Center of Greenwich, P.C.
100 Melrose Ave # 101
Greenwich,
CT
06830
Call (888) 847-1821
Are you looking for a healthy and multidisciplinary way to increase your health? Do you want to help yourself under the care of professionals who offer a diverse approach to medicine? With integrative medicine at the Back & Neck Pain Center of Greenwich, P.C. in Fairfield, Connecticut, you can optimize your health with help from Dr. Adrian Marcus.
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Breast Ultrasound and Core Biopsy Bronxville, Westchester County, New York
Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging | Women's Imaging Center
Lawrence Hospital Center | Outpatient Services
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville,
NY
10708
Call (888) 544-1169
Breast cancer is a serious problem among American women. As a preventative measure, women should have regular ultrasounds and biopsy's (if necessary). If you live in the Bronxville area, Lawrence Hospital Medical Imaging Center provides quality care and will answer any question or concern you have about these procedures. They understand the anxiety that comes with having these tests, which is why they strive to bring your results as fast as possible with accuracy.
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