News Forum - Thailand to combat its methamphetamine crisis with cannabis

[Thaiger]

Thailand is going to attempt to fix its methamphetamine crisis with another formally-illegal drug, cannabis. In a recent study, meth addicts in Thailand were given CBD oil under their tongues to treat withdrawal symptoms, and the results were promising. Today, Acting Director General of the Medical Department Dr. Thongchai Kiratthihathayakhon said that methamphetamine is “Thailand’s biggest problem.” Meth-induced psychosis is often found to be at the root of the most violent crimes in Thailand, such as rape and murder, which plague the kingdom day in and day out. Methamphetamine is a synthetic drug made in a lab, making it the […]

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[Vigo]

 

Are these people deluded? Cannabinoid active ingredient has been shown to induce psychosis too*. It's not like the product has no risk.     Ok, so maybe CBD oil may not have same impact on everyone, but they don't mention anything about screening their patients for a genetic predisposition to the addictive behaviour. If someone is wired to become easily addicted, whether it is to  meth or alcohol or heroin, substituting another drug won't help.  Sorry to say, the argument for the use of CBD in the absence of actual clinical evidence to support its use suggests that there may be an ulterior motive involved. Do any of these promoters have an interest in a CBD supplier? Giving the oil without strong support system like counselling and social diversion won't have much impact.  There is a socio economic link with meth use that has to be addressed too. What's the plan for that? Annoiting poor kids with CBD oil?

 

* Cannabis and Psychosis - Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Nov; 16(21): 4149. Evidence for an association between cannabis and psychosis has been documented in literature in many forms including experimental studies, epidemiological data, and case series. The association has implications for psychotic outcomes ranging from mild to severe and occurring over minutes to years.

 

Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2009 Dec; 6(12): 44–48. PMCID: PMC2811144 PMID: 20104292  Cannabis-Induced Bipolar Disorder with Psychotic Features - There has been considerable debate regarding the causal relationship between chronic cannabis abuse and psychiatric disorders. Clinicians agree that cannabis use can cause acute adverse mental effects that mimic psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Although there is good evidence to support this, the connections are complex and not fully understood.  As the research in the endocannabinoid system is emerging, the neurobiological effects of cannabis are being evaluated in the development of psychiatric illness for those individuals who may be genetically vulnerable

 

 

 

[Bill_Koomers]

Maybe publicly outting the country where all of the precursor is manufactured would be a good start too.

[Ramanathan.P]

It is like fighting "Fire with Fire" in which eventually both kills each other. However in this scenario, it looks like the plague is being fought with pandemic....which not necessarily kill each other but shoulder each other. 

[Johnnyb2]

It's a good idea considering that despite years of various wars on drugs, methamphetamines in particular, the problem hasn't gotten better. In fact it got worse. Cannabis has been a traditional medicine for thousands of years. Though it might no be perfect it is so much better than methamphetamines. 

Methamphetamines destroy people, families and society. Just about any other substance would be better to abuse.

 

[Cabra]

2 hours ago, Vigo said:

Are these people deluded? Cannabinoid active ingredient has been shown to induce psychosis too*. It's not like the product has no risk.     Ok, so maybe CBD oil may not have same impact on everyone, but they don't mention anything about screening their patients for a genetic predisposition to the addictive behaviour. If someone is wired to become easily addicted, whether it is to  meth or alcohol or heroin, substituting another drug won't help.  Sorry to say, the argument for the use of CBD in the absence of actual clinical evidence to support its use suggests that there may be an ulterior motive involved. Do any of these promoters have an interest in a CBD supplier? Giving the oil without strong support system like counselling and social diversion won't have much impact.  There is a socio economic link with meth use that has to be addressed too. What's the plan for that? Annoiting poor kids with CBD oil?

* Cannabis and Psychosis - Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Nov; 16(21): 4149. Evidence for an association between cannabis and psychosis has been documented in literature in many forms including experimental studies, epidemiological data, and case series. The association has implications for psychotic outcomes ranging from mild to severe and occurring over minutes to years.

Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2009 Dec; 6(12): 44–48. PMCID: PMC2811144 PMID: 20104292  Cannabis-Induced Bipolar Disorder with Psychotic Features - There has been considerable debate regarding the causal relationship between chronic cannabis abuse and psychiatric disorders. Clinicians agree that cannabis use can cause acute adverse mental effects that mimic psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Although there is good evidence to support this, the connections are complex and not fully understood.  As the research in the endocannabinoid system is emerging, the neurobiological effects of cannabis are being evaluated in the development of psychiatric illness for those individuals who may be genetically vulnerable

The research to date on the effectiveness of CBD to address craving and anxiety seems to be contradictive, at best. But there is some promise for certain patients 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4444130/

The only way to treat addiction is to adress the underlying disorder, and not simply replace one drug for the other (although Methadone is used exactly in this manner to deal with opioid addiction today; some even use at for long term maintenance; and methadone is addicting). If the CBD type programs are administered carefully and professionally, it very well could help people.