title: [Neurobiology of cannabis--recent data enlightening driving disturbances].
abstract: During the last decades a new landscape of cannabis has been designed on account of: the increase in its use the greater youth of its users; the increase in the content of its main active constituent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and a lot of new epidemiological and neurobiological data. THC displays an exceptional lipophilicity, allowing its cerebral storage, leading to long lasting effects, by far more lasting than its presence in blood, and beyond the period throughout the intoxicated people feel a disablement. This is linked to its slow release from brain areas in which large proportion of spare receptors exists (reserve receptors). THC disturbs cognition and various skills required in driving. It may be responsible for psychiatric troubles: anxiety, depression, suicide attempt, psychotic attack, triggering of schizophrenia. It potentiates the alcohol effects and incites to alcohol drinking. It displays close relationships with dependence to heroin. This new landscape of cannabis urges to make a radical alteration in the public communication about this drug of abuse as it has yet collected so many troubles, accidents or tragedies.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Neuropsychopharmacologie F.R.E 2735 Cnrs, Faculté de médecine et pharmacie de Rouen et Unité de neurobiologie clinique, CHU Charles Nicolle, F 76000 Rouen.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Costentin
mesh_terms: D001334:Automobile Driving; D002188:Cannabis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D013759:Dronabinol