 Drugs,
the Brain and Reproductive Function
By Gabriel Nahas*
Drugs of Abuse and the Brain
Today, the scientific verdict is clear: the use of illegal drugs,
(cocaine, opiates and marihuana) persistently alters molecular
mechanisms of the brain, which control memory, coordination, emotion
and judgement. It is now proven that the deviations of thinking
and feeling caused by minute amounts of drugs (milligrams) are
associated with persistent alterations of brain biochemistry which
were observed a decade ago by the medical imaging of the brain.
Nicotine, which creates a dependency as enslaving as that of
illegal drugs does not impair the intellectual and affective functions
of the brain. With alcohol, grams instead of milligrams are required
to impair these functions. It takes one thousand times more alcohol
than it does marihuana to produce the same impairing effects.
Next, molecular biologists showed that drugs of abuse alter and
deregulate a fundamental mechanism of brain cells: the expression
of DNA by which biochemical pathways are programmed. Consequently,
drugs of abuse will induce in brain cells persistent functional
changes that will alter the processing of information they receive
and transmit. Altered biochemical patterns are imprinted in brain
areas that control pleasure, memory and goal- oriented behaviour,
resulting in the state of addiction: the addict loses his option
of refusing drugs because his brain has become so deregulated that
he is unable to interrupt their use: he has lost his free will.
Loss of personal freedom is the most severe consequence of drug
addiction. Rather than a liberated spirit pursuing an unconventional
lifestyle, the drug addict has become the victim of a society that
has condoned the use of substances which impair the biochemistry
of the brain, distort consciousness and preclude the exercise of
free choice. Under the influence of the drug he is unable to make
rational, informed decisions. Impairment of brain function by drugs
of abuse will be reflected also on reproductive function.
*Research Professor
NYU Medical School Fax (212) 263-8743
Email: nahasgOl@popmail.med.nyu.edu
Drugs of Abuse and Reproductive Function
Marihuana or THC, its active ingredient, targets the brain of
the growing fetus. Consumption of these drugs has been related
to retarded fetal growth of zebrafish, rodents, rabbits and humans
and produces deficits in the offspring of the. rhesus monkey. Most
serious adverse consequences of these drugs have been observed
at the earliest stage of reproductive function, on the "gametes" or
germ cells of mice and sea urchins. Decreased spermatogenesis,
abnormal forms of sperm were observed on volunteers studied in
a clinical ward. Experimental studies on two animal species reported
dose related damage to the germinal epithelium of the testis (impairment
of sperm formation).
The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) sponsored all of
these studies performed by seasoned investigators in the 70's and
80's and they were published in peer reviewed journals. NIDA in
its mandated Annual Report to Congress of 1979 and 1980, on the
health hazards of marihuana, did mention the effects of marihuana
on germ cells and reproductive function. However it did not issue
a formal warning on the subject similar to that of Surgeon General
Koop's of the Public Health Service who pointed out the effects
of Marihuana on "decreased sperm count and activity, interference
with ovulation and prenatal development." Thereafter NIDA
stopped sponsoring any additional studies on this subject, during
the eighties and nineties, though it funded dozens of clinical
controlled studies of addicts who self-administered NIDA- dispensed
marihuana cigarettes (and cocaine).
The protocol of these studies did not include investigations
of germ cells, sperm or ova and did not explicitly warn the subjects
on the potential risk to their reproductive function. These risks
were again described in an international symposium on "Marihuana
and Medicine" held in 1998 at New York University Medical
Center and which NIDA refused to sponsor. The older studies of
the 70's were validated by current ones in molecular biology which
describe the deregulation by THC of the basic molecular mechanisms
of reproduction which indicate that this drug puts at risk future
generations before they are conceived.
The Response of the Media
The reporters from the media, up to this day have not warned
the public about the risks of marihuana smoking on reproductive
function and state that they did not have an unequivocal backing
from the National Institute of Health to report such an alarming
fact to the public. However, the media have been responsive to
anecdotal claims that marihuana is a soft drug void of toxic effect
and should be legalized without any serious danger for public health.
The mainstream media seem to have adopted the stereotype of "marihuana,
soft drug", an opinion which has favored a trivialization
of its use. The only exception to this trend has been The Reader's
Digest which steadfastly reports the damaging effect of marihuana
with the commitment of its editors.
Marihuana for Medicine
A majority of Americans and their elected representatives to
Congress have steadfastly opposed the legalization of marihuana
for medicine. In order to circumvent this refusal, the marihuana
lobby, supported by members of the bar and funded by business tycoons,
has undertaken a massive media campaign in favor of marihuana for
medicine. In California, this media campaign of "Californians
for Medical Rights", who advocates the medical use of marihuana
smoking, was most successful: 84% of the electorate voted in favor
of the prescription of Marihuana cigarettes by "health professionals" and
for patients suffering incurable ailments including cancer and
AIDS that could only be relieved by this "therapeutic" smoke
as documented by tens of thousands of patients. This state law
amounted to a smoke screen for the legalization of marihuana smoking
in California and other states with similar laws.
And yet the scientific record, after 30 years of studies, has
unequivocally established that all of the recognized therapeutic
properties of THC and marihuana (against glaucoma, vomiting of
cancer chemotherapy, or chronic pain) are better fulfilled by more
specific and effective medications which do not possess the unwanted
mental, cardiovascular, reproductive and behavioral properties
of THC. Prolonged storage in tissues and slow elimination is influenced
by genetic variability, which results in marked individual response.
Development of tolerance further compounds the difficulty of administering
uniform amounts. THC is also an addictive substance. All of these
factors are associated with the deregulation of membrane signaling
by THC and result in partial, inconsistent and discordant therapeutic
effects, which may not be dissociated from its undesirable side
effects.
Marihuana or THC do not qualify as safe and effective medications
which aim at restoring physiological function of cells, organs
and organisms. They have no place in the modem Pharmacopeia from
which cannabis was eliminated in the first part of the 20'h century.
However this opinion has not been endorsed by NIDA or the National
Institute of Health.
Conclusion
To quote A.M. Rosenthal, from the New York Times, "In the
current climate of drug acceptance, with two million dollars, it
is possible to persuade the American people to accept a scientific
counter truth: the unique therapeutic value of smoking marihuana,
with the purpose of legalizing this drug. The message of its harmfulness
has not been conveyed to the public, which has been duped by a
clever propaganda."
It is therefore time to convey to the American people, the scientific
evidence of the damaging effects of marihuana on reproductive function.
However it is difficult for the media to take a stand on this subject
similar to that taken on tobacco as long as the National Institute
of Drug Abuse and its parent agency the National Institute of Health
will not rule on the issue. These Federal agencies have not considered
this matter a scientific priority in its past and current research
and this is not a case of lack of funding.
Meanwhile the people of this nation might start to seriously
question federal policy that has failed to report and research
the damaging and possibly irreversible effects of marihuana on
the brain and reproductive function of women and men in the prime
of life.
Gabriel G. Nahas, New York, 0 1/24/2000
References to this paper may be found in the hundreds of scientific
articles listed in the following volume which may be obtained from
Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com
(1) Marihuana Biological Effects (Gabriel G. Nahas and William
D. M. Paton) Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1979.
(2) Marihuana and Medicine. (Gabriel G. Nahas, Kenneth M. Sutin,
David Harvey, Stig Agurell) Humana Press, Totowa, N.J., 1999.
Page 2
|
