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UK: High-Strength Cannabis 'Harming the Young'

The Scotsman

Monday 17 Jan 2005

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The increased availability of high-strength cannabis is harming the
physical and mental health of young people in the UK, an expert warned today.

Dr Clare Gerada, head of the Royal College of General Practitioners' Drugs
Misuse unit, said: "With cannabis now more popular among young people than
cigarettes and higher potencies more widely available than ever before, it
is time we looked again at the health risks.

"There is evidence that high levels of use, especially among teenagers who
are physically and mentally still developing, carries with it the increased
risk of psychosis and respiratory conditions such as asthma.

"While we are finally winning the battle against smoking and alcohol we are
in danger of ignoring cannabis. Genetically modified forms of the drug are
now the norm rather than the exception - in fact in many cases it is
difficult for users to buy anything else."

Dr Gerada was speaking ahead of a conference on cannabis being held by the
Royal College in London tomorrow (Tuesday).

The meeting aims to broaden GPs knowledge about the drug and help them deal
with conditions arising from its use, as well as understand the evidence
for possible medical benefits.

Speakers will include Professor John Henry from St Mary's Hospital, London,
Kate Hoey MP, the Labour member for Vauxhall, and Jeff Ditchfield from Bud
Buddies - a group campaigning for a change in the law to allow medicinal
cannabis use.

Traditionally GPs have shied away from questioning patients about drugs,
due to a lack of knowledge and concerns about confidentiality.

Almost a third of young men aged 16 to 24 took cannabis in 2003, according
to the Department of Health.

In November last year, figures from the European Monitoring Centre for
Drugs and Drug Addiction showed that two in five British 15-year-olds had
tried cannabis - the highest rate in Europe.

 

 

 

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