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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: More patients battle mental health and drug problems
Annie Kelly The Guardian
Tuesday 16 Nov 2004 The number of people who abuse drugs and suffer from mental health problems has risen by more than 60% in five years, researchers said today. New research has revealed that GPs are reporting a rapid increase of patients with mental health problems combined with substance abuse, with more people showing symptoms in their early 30s. An analysis of data submitted by doctors to the General Practice Research Database in England and Wales shows that the number of people with mental illness and drug abuse has soared from 23,624 in 1993 to 37,361 in 1998. Numbers of cases in the 25-34 age bracket more than doubled from 6,874 to 13,240 over the same period. Men are more likely to be affected than women with rates rising by 70% in men, compared with 44% in women. In the report, the researchers from Keele University warned that links between mental health problems and drug use were rising more rapidly for serious psychiatric conditions. The rate of psychosis and drug abuse has soared by 147% over a five-year period, and rates of schizophrenia combined with substance misuse rose by 128% in the same time period. The report said it was crucial to determine what assessments and interventions were needed to provide an effective response to the problem. "It is important to improve competencies in primary care teams, taking into account the changing problems they face in the management of substance misuse and psychiatric illness," researchers said. Campaigners have been lobbying for many years for a better understanding of the link between mental health and drug dependency. In September, drugs charity Turning Point and mental health organisation Rethink launched a campaign to make health professionals more aware of the problem of "dual diagnosis", the term used to describe the co-existence of mental health and substance abuse problems. Turning Point said around half the patients in drug and alcohol services also suffer from mental health problems. Overall the number of drug deaths in England and Wales fell 6% last year from 1,583 in 2002 to 1,487, according to new figures published today by the International Centre for Drug Policy. The research also showed rural areas have more deaths per capita than many inner city locations. - Drug users could choose treatment over prosecution in the courts under new proposals to tackle illegal drugs, announced by the Conservatives today. A six-point plan also includes more random drug-testing in schools, and tougher prison sentences for drug dealers who continue to reoffend. Under a Conservative government, young addicts arrested for minor offences could opt to go into residential rehabilitation rather than face criminal proceedings. Cannabis would also be restored from a class C to a class B classification to end the current "confusion" over the Labour government's drug policy.
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