Charas

Abstract: Summary Out of 25 each of long-term, heavy bhang (marihuana) ingestors, 25 charas (hashish) smokers and 25 matched non-user controls earlier studied and reported by us, 11 bhang users, 19 charas smokers and 15 controls could be re-studied after a lapse of 9-10 years All the users had continued the use during the intervening years Tests of intelligence, memory and perceptuomotor tasks earlier administered to the subjects were repeated This showed a significant additional deterioration in case of the users on a number of psychological measures, ie on digit span, speed and accuracy tests, reaction time and Bender visuomotor gestalt test The deterioration in the cannabis users was significantly greater than in the case of the non-users controls The study thus further corroborates our earlier findings of impairment of cognitive functions associated with long-term, heavy cannabis use

Abstract: Aims This study examined the association of tobacco consumption (smoking and chewing) with illicit drug use among Bangladesh males. Design Cross-sectional survey data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2004 were used. Setting Bangladesh. Participants A total of 4297 males aged 15–54 years. Measurements Age, education, religion, marital status, place of residence; tobacco consumption such as cigarette and bidi smoking, chewing sada, pata, tobacco leaves, gul, betel quid with zarda; taking illicit drugs such as ganja, charas, heroin, pethedine, phensidyl; having sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Findings Overall prevalence of tobacco consumption was 59%. Bidi smoking (29.6%), cigarette smoking (27.8%) and chewing betel quid with tobacco/zarda (17.5%) were predominant. Overall prevalence of illicit drug use was 4%. Ganja was the main drug (3%), followed by phensidyl (0.8%), heroin (0.3%) and charas (0.3%). Age, education, place of residence, marital status, having STDs, premarital and extra-marital sex were associated significantly with tobacco smoking. Almost all variables were also associated significantly with illicit drug use. Smoking cigarettes and bidi and eating tobacco leaves/shada pata/gul showed significantly positive associations with illicit drug use when adjusted for other variables. Conclusions Tobacco consumption is common and associated positively with the illicit drug use among males in Bangladesh.

Abstract: A young adult male of about 25 years of age consumed a glass (about 300 ml) of Bhang on the holy occasion of ShivRatri. The deceased died within 24 hours of consuming the Bhang. The deceased had suffered from rheumatic heart disease with multiple valvular involvements. He had also undergone open-heart surgery in the past. Fatality due to Bhang is extremely rare and therefore the case is presented. An attempt is made to review the literature. Bhang is one of the Indian preparations of Indian hemp (Cannabis sativa). It is prepared by the wet grinding of the leaves of the plant. The bolus is then consumed in various ways. Water is used as a vehicle. In the present case a bolus of about 1 to 2 gm was mixed in a glass of water. ShivRatri is a Hindu festival. On this day prayers are offered to Lord Shiva, who is the god of all evils and poisons. Bhang is a special article, which is offered to Lord Shiva on this auspicious day. Then, the devotees consume it as the God. Gujrat is a dry state (possession, consumption, sale, etc. of alcohol, Bhang, opium and other psychotropic substance, etc. is governed by particular laws), but on the holy occasion of ShivRati, for a day, the law is relaxed for the use of Bhang. In most other parts of the country, particularly, in northern India, it is a common practice to consume various preparations of Indian hemp like Bhang, Charas, Ganja, sweetmeat, etc. The bolus mentioned above is probably the minimum single dose.