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Cannabis link to Aboriginal depression

A study has found that aboriginal heavy cannabis users are four times more likely to suffer from depression as a result of the cannabis use.

The study of three communities in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory isolated the cannabis use from tobacco, alcohol and petrol sniffing activities to assess the impact of the cannabis.

The report highlighted research which showed that suicide rates were five times higher for females and three times higher for males than suicide rates for non aboriginals.

Cannabis use by the aboriginals is three times higher than non aboriginals, for example, 61 per cent of aboriginal males aged 13 to 36 use cannabis weekly compared to 24 per cent of non aboriginals.

(Source: Medical Journal of Australia, 19 May 2008)

DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-

This study which reports high cannabis use and a high level of mental illness by aboriginal Australians is disturbing.

Aboriginal Australians deserve better and at least a substantial access to detoxification and drug rehabilitation.

Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in Australia so we NEED court supervised drug detoxification and rehabilitation.

In order to reduce the extensive aboriginal Australian cannabis using population we NEED a comprehensive and effective drug detoxification and rehabilitation system.

What works in cannabis rehabilitation is to get aboriginal Australians off cannabis use.

Cannabis rehabilitation can be linked with tobacco, alcohol and petrol sniffing rehabilitation so that the mental health outcomes are fully effective.

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Cannabis use shrinks the brain

A study by the University of Melbourne has revealed that heavy cannabis use shrinks the parts of the brain that control emotion, memory, fear and aggression.

The study of men that smoked at least 5 joints a day for in excess of 10 years have structural brain abnormalities not seen in non-smokers.

Brain tissue that regulates emotion and memory had shrunk by 12 per cent and brain tissue that regulates fear and regression had shrunk by 7 per cent.

The study was reported in Archives of General Psychiatry journal published in the United States.

Another study by the University of New South Wales showed that cannabis smokers had a 40 per cent increased risk of developing schizophrenia and smoking daily drives the risk up two-fold.

Other studies link cannabis smoking to gum disease and lung cancer.

(Source: Melbourne Herald Sun, 3 June 2008)

DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-

This study which links cannabis use to brain damage is confirmed by other studies that link cannabis use to psychiatric disorders.

Neurophysiologists now admit the link between cannabis use and mental disorders caused by brain tissue changes.

Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in Australia so we NEED court supervised drug detoxification and rehabilitation.

To reduce the extensive brain damage Australia NEEDS comprehensive and effective drug detoxification and rehabilitation.

What works in drug rehabilitation is to get Australians off cannabis use.

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Cannabis dangers warning

Young people in the United Kingdom are to be given stronger warnings about the dangers of cannabis.

The Home Office will warn young people that - any one who uses cannabis could be doing so at a risk to their mental health.

The UK government downgraded cannabis in 2004 only to find mental health problems increased.

Evidence given by the National Director for Mental Health in the United Kingdom to a national council claimed that cannabis use IS A CAUSE OF SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS.

The mental health problems linked with cannabis are schizophrenia, depression and paranoia.

The number of teenagers receiving treatment for cannabis has increased 16 per cent since last year in the United Kingdom.

(Source: Daily Mail, United Kingdom, 31 March 2008)

DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-

The scientific evidence of the link between cannabis use and mental health problems is now so strong that governments are warning their young to try and prevent their health system from the effects.

Previous advice that cannabis should be avoided only by those that have a history of mental health problems has now been discarded.

In Australia cannabis is the most used illicit drug and so the mental health problems are increasing as well.

The most effective way of avoiding mental health problems from cannabis use is to discourage use and if teenagers do use cannabis to provide them with detoxification and rehabilitation to get them drug free before mental health problems occur.

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Cannabis Use Penalties Increase

The United Kingdom is to increase fines for cannabis users that are caught a second time.

This follows the United Kingdom government's reversal of the weaker cannabis laws that caused an increase in the mental health cases as a result of the stronger THC in Skunk cannabis.

Police in the United Kingdom have disclosed that cannabis seizures are now much more likely to involve Skunk cannabis with the higher THC and the higher likelihood of mental problems.

(Source: - The Guardian newspaper UK, 13 October 2008)

DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-

Australia's high use of cannabis is causing the same mental health problems as those experienced in the United Kingdom.

In order to reduce the mental health problems for Australian cannabis users we need to stop cannabis users from using cannabis.

Rather than escalating penalties Australia should use its courts to direct cannabis users into detoxification and rehabilitation to get them drug free.

Early intervention requires that cannabis users be rehabilitated before the mental health problems occur.

Cannabis use causes depression, aggression, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, psychosis, insanity, delirium and depersonalization.

Cannabis use is involved in fatal car accidents.

Because cannabis is mainly used by children and young adults we owe it to our future generations to assist them to stop using.