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Psychological and Psychiatric Consequences of Cannabis

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Handbook of Substance Abuse

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Abstract

Cannabis, particularly as smoked as marijuana cigarettes (“joint,” “reefer,” “herb”), is the most frequently abused illicit substance in the United States. Not surprisingly, psychologists and other mental professionals are asked to evaluate large numbers of often youthful people with psychiatric and behavioral problems who also use cannabis. In some individuals, the cannabis use clearly leads to the psychological and psychiatric consequences observed by the clinician. In others, the psychopathology noted antedates the cannabis use or dependence and is a determinate of drug use. Both the drug use and the psychopathology may also occur concurrently and be relatively independent of each other. Further complicating the picture, other illicit drugs and alcohol are often used in association with cannabis. The intermittent or occasional use of cannabis may not be associated with any psychological or psychiatric consequences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York, 10036, USA

    Bruce Phariss, Robert B. Millman & Ann Bordwine Beeder

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  1. Bruce Phariss
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  2. Robert B. Millman
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  3. Ann Bordwine Beeder
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Ralph E. Tarter  & Peggy J. Ott  & 

  2. Allegheny University of the Health Sciences, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Robert T. Ammerman

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Phariss, B., Millman, R.B., Beeder, A.B. (1998). Psychological and Psychiatric Consequences of Cannabis. In: Tarter, R.E., Ammerman, R.T., Ott, P.J. (eds) Handbook of Substance Abuse. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-2913-9_10

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