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Cannabis Use Disorders and Related Emergencies

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Substance Use and the Acute Psychiatric Patient

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Psychiatry ((CCPSY))

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Abstract

Cannabis has a long history of human use for recreational and medicinal purposes. Recently, its legal status has been in transition with legalization of cannabis occurring in multiple US states and many more allowing its medicinal use. The marijuana plant has several psychoactive compounds, with the primary components being tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabis can be consumed in a variety of formulations, including those derived from the marijuana plant, as well as synthetic cannabinoid agents. Intoxication with cannabis typically presents with euphoria and perceptual changes, although psychotic and anxiety symptoms can also occur. Intoxication infrequently leads to psychiatric or medical admission, and distressing psychiatric symptoms often resolve with sobriety. In individuals with underlying psychiatric illness, including psychotic disorders, cannabis and synthetic cannabinoid use may contribute to onset, recurrence, or exacerbation of symptoms.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA

    S. Alex Sidelnik

  2. Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Emergency Department, Boston, MA, USA

    Theodore I. Benzer

Authors
  1. S. Alex Sidelnik
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  2. Theodore I. Benzer
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Correspondence to S. Alex Sidelnik .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Abigail L. Donovan

  2. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Suzanne A. Bird

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Sidelnik, S.A., Benzer, T.I. (2019). Cannabis Use Disorders and Related Emergencies. In: Donovan, A., Bird, S. (eds) Substance Use and the Acute Psychiatric Patient. Current Clinical Psychiatry. Humana, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23961-3_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23961-3_4

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-23960-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-23961-3

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