anakirob wrote:
Before I make my point I would like to say
DISCLAIMER
I do not advocate the use of recreational drugs in this forum
I am just stating an opinion
On the link between amphetamine/cannabis and schizophrenia, I believe it is the disease which causes the substance abuse, not the substance which causes the disease.
Just had to get that off my chest. :-?
I disagree my cousin has been diagnosed as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and has
NEVER touched any form of illegal drugs.
There is still a mistaken belief within society today that people who are mentally ill are all mass murderers and a a danager to the community, this is as daft as saying that all (randomly picking a disease) cancer patients suffer exactly the same effects as each other. It is people's preconceptions which cause the issue in the bulk of cases rather than an illness.
Under medication most people suffering from mental illness can live a very normal life - for example my cousin is now a stepdad to two young boys and has recently got married to a police woman.
We must get away from the prejudices that haunt our society from the Victorian attitude towards mental illness, especially as this is becoming more prevalent amongst our young (especially male) members of society as our lives are filled with more pressure.
We need to be looking carefully at what society is doing to make so many people develop these illnesses.
