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UK: 'Fags and hash' fears for health

BBC Online

Thursday 21 Apr 2005

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Campaigners are calling for help to explain the dangers to youngers' health
from smoking tobacco and cannabis.

The Scottish Tobacco Control Alliance (STCA) is setting out the risks at
its first "Fags and Hash" conference.

Experts in Scotland are attending the event, which looks at the health
issues related to smoking both substances at the same time.

The STCA says young people tend to be unaware of the dangers inhaling
tobacco and the class C drug can pose.

The chief executive of ASH Scotland, Maureen Moore, opened the conference
by calling for a more thorough understanding of how tobacco and cannabis
are used together.

Ahead of the event, she said: "The use of cannabis and tobacco together is
an issue in Scotland, especially for young people.

"There is evidence that young people are using tobacco and cannabis
together and that they are unaware of the specific health risks this entails.

"Tobacco is Scotland's biggest preventable cause of death, and the way in
which it is used with cannabis makes it even more dangerous.

"It is time to reinforce the message that cannabis is not just illegal, it
is dangerous to health, and its use with tobacco can lead to the lung and
heart diseases we know kill far too many people in Scotland every year."

'Greater harm'

STCA chairman Brian Pringle said: "Both tobacco and cannabis are dangerous
to health and the way in which they are used together increases these risks.

"People who smoke cannabis can find themselves subsequently addicted to the
nicotine in tobacco.

"The habit of smoking joints with cardboard filters means that there is no
barrier to tars and particulate matter, dramatically increasing the damage
that users can do to their lungs.

"The manner in which cannabis and tobacco are smoked together means that
the smoke is inhaled deeper, and for longer, resulting in greater harm to
the lungs."

 

 

 

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