Here’s another great reason, if you needed one more, not to smoke weed. Weed, otherwise known as cannabis, is not only is illegal in most parts of the U.S. but  expensive too. It correlates to higher chances of becoming schizophrenic by as much as 15 percent, and 13 percent of cases of schizophrenia have been causally linked with weed usage (“Preventing Schizophrenia, Risk Reduction,” para 2).

            Not only week increases the risk for one to become schizophrenic. For pregnant women, another consideration and precaution to take during pregnancy is against viral infections. These infections can infect the fetus, which can leave serious long lasting conditions, one of them being schizophrenia. Another thing for pregnant women to be wary about is the birth process itself, where the child is at risk for inadequate oxygen levels which has been linked to schizophrenia. (“Schizophrenia: Signs, Types & Causes,” para 1)

Another fear for parents about their children’s health is the environmental factors that surround their children during the early stages of their life. Environmental factors, such as emotional trauma and abuse, have been shown to increase the risk of schizophrenia (“Schizophrenia: Signs, Types & Causes,” para 8).

            Sadly, no matter how cautious a parent is, the highest potential to become schizophrenic has been correlated to one’s genetic makeup. Although the risk is lower in secondary relatives like uncles, aunts, and cousins, there is a very strong risk for those whose parents are schizophrenic. However, the highest chance, with statistics ranging from 40 to 65 percent, to become schizophrenic is if one has an identical twin (“What causes Schizophrenia?” para 3). Compared to the general population’s risk, which is 1 out of 100, this is a significant link between family and the disease.

            Although schizophrenia is a serious condition, it is not the defining trait of a person, nor is it one’s only characteristic. Antipsychotic medication coupled with psychotherapy is a highly effective treatment path to alleviate the symptoms that are common in schizophrenic patients. In many cases of schizophrenia, the quality of life can be good and day to day functions are usually not impaired.  Some well-known and respected members of society are schizophrenic, a few being the Pink Floyd band member Syd Barret, Broadway star Meera Popkin, and first lady Mary Todd Lincoln (“Famous People with Schizophrenia,” para 4). 

Sources:

Schizophrenia.com – Preventing Schizophrenia, Risk Reduction. (n.d.). Schizophrenia.com – Preventing Schizophrenia, Risk Reduction. Retrieved April 20, 2014, from http://www.schizophrenia.com/prevention.htm#drugs

Schizophrenia: Signs, Types & Causes. (n.d.). Schizophrenia: Signs, Symptoms, Types, Causes, and Effects. Retrieved April 20, 2014, from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/schizophrenia_symptom.htm

 Famous People with Schizophrenia – Schizophrenia.com. (n.d.). Famous People with Schizophrenia – Schizophrenia.com. Retrieved April 20, 2014, from http://schizophrenia.com/famous#

What Causes Schizophrenia? – Psych Central. (n.d.). Psych Central.com. Retrieved April 20, 2014, from http://psychcentral.com/lib/what-causes-schizophrenia/000715