Cannabis Pathway To Other Drug Use

A major study from France has shown that cannabis use leads to other illicit drug use.

The study of over 29,000 people showed that six out of ten adults over 25 years that use cocaine started using cannabis before the age of 15.

The risk of other illicit drug use was 21 times higher among those that had only experimented with cannabis use.

For daily cannabis users the risk of other illicit drug use was 124 times higher than for non-users.

The more cannabis is used, the more likely those other illicit drugs are used later in life.

The earlier cannabis is used, the more likely those other illicit drugs are used later in life.

(Source: Addictive Behaviours Journal ,12 January 2012)

DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-

This new study confirms three decades of research that points to cannabis being a gateway drug for other illicit drugs.

Cannabis now with much stronger toxins in the THC is likely to increase the progression to other illicit drugs seeking the next high.

Cannabis and illicit drugs are addictive leading to lifetime drug use.

Cannabis is now more toxic, stronger and more addictive so the health consequences of other drug use are increasing.

This Illicit drug use is causing increasing mental health and psychosis in the community causing strain on the health system.

Detoxification and rehabilitation are necessary to break this cycle of progression and addiction to assist users to get themselves drug free.