DRUG USE AND EARLY AGING
A new scientific study has linked early onset schizophrenia with aging.
The study found that schizophrenia anticipates some symptoms of aging like dementia and psychosis.
The study looked at individuals aged from 19 to 81 years and compared those with schizophrenia and those without.
It found that those with aging symptoms differed dramatically between those with schizophrenia and those without.
(Source: Normal Human Aging and Early Stage Schizophrenia Share Common Molecular Profiles, National Institute of Health, June 2009)
DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-
The scientific link between illicit drug use and schizophrenia has now been established.
The link between illicit drug use and psychosis particularly in cannabis users has also been established.
This research establishes that the molecular profiles are linked.
Illicit drug counselors have documented evidence of early aging particularly facial features in illicit drug users.
Our Council on its web address at www.daca.org.au has clear pictorial evidence of this early aging in illicit drug users.
Early aging caused by illicit drug use and drug substitutes like methadone heavily impact on the drug users and their families.
Early aging caused by illicit drug use and prescription drug substitutes like methadone have the ability to heavily impact on health costs.
Our Council recommends early intervention detoxification and rehabilitation to get users off drugs as cost effective.
More detoxification & rehabilitation that gets illicit drug users drug free.
Court ordered and supervised detoxification & rehabilitation.
Less illicit drug users, drug pushers and drug related crimes. 22/2009