SnowbirdAlert www.newscanada.com What doCanadians know and believe about the use of cannabis? With the Government proposing new changes to the legal status of cannabis, many of us are wondering what to think and how it will affect us, our families and communities. A new Health Canada survey sought to obtain detailed information about the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of Canadians who use cannabis for non-medical and medical purposes and the perceptions of non-users. Here are some interesting insights from the survey. Perceptions on benefits and harms. About half of all respondents indicated that they believe that cannabis has a positive effect on mood, creativity, anxiety and sleep. On the other hand, some people indicated that cannabis had a negative effect on motivation, memory, concentration, attention and thinking and decision-making. More than 70% of respondents thought that using cannabis could be habit forming. Research shows that THC in cannabis causes an increase in levels of dopamine, the pleasure chemical, in the brain, motivating people to keep using it. In fact, it’s estimated that 9% of cannabis users will develop an addiction to it — a figure that rises with daily use and among people who start using as teenagers. Opinions on using and driving. 4 out of 10 respondents who said that they had used cannabis in the past 12 months also said that they had driven within 2 hours of using cannabis. Cannabis can impair the skills needed to drive safely and perform other high-speed activities like skiing, biking and skateboarding. Participating in any of these activities while impaired can result in accidents that can cause serious injuries, even death. Age of first use. The average age of respondents when they first used cannabis for non-medical purposes was 18.7 years of age. It’s important to remember that using cannabis at a young age, frequently and over a long period of time can have long-lasting impacts on learning, attention and memory. Early and frequent cannabis use also increases the chance of addiction. If approved, the proposed legislation would restrict the sale of cannabis to people over the age of 18 (or higher, depending on your province or territory). Find more information at canada.ca/cannabis. Like exercising your body, exercising your brain is also important. Keeping your mind active and engaged may help reduce your risk of dementia. Here are some fun things you can do every day. Puzzle games. Research shows that people who do word puzzles and brain teasers score better on tests measuring cognitive abilities like attention, reasoning, and memory. Try doing a crossword, word search or sudoku on your commute to work, during your lunch break, or while you’re winding down for the night. Write your name with your less dominant hand to tease a different part of your brain. Study a new language. You don’t have to become perfectly fluent to reap the brain benefits of another tongue. Speaking two or more languages and switching between them can lead to improved attention, memory skills, and problem-solving. Take a class at your local community centre or try a language app on your smartphone. Keep learning. If you don’t want to try out a new language, learning something else can also help to keep your brain active and healthy. Whether it’s reading a new book on an interesting topic, trying out a new card game, or starting a hobby you’ve always wanted to try, giving your mind a challenge is a great way to boost your brain. The federal government is working on a national dementia strategy that will complement existing initiatives to promote awareness, reduce stigma and support those affected and is committed to helping improve the quality of life for people living with dementia and their caregivers. EASY WAYS to keep your brain active 6 | www.snowbirds.org
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