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New Study Links Cannabis Causing Psychosis

A new study links cannabis use with psychosis.

Cannabis users that started using the illicit drug at 15 years or younger were twice as likely to develop psychosis.

The longer duration from first use of cannabis is associated with multiple psychosis related incidents.

The study looked at 3801 people with an average age of 20 years.

Delusions, hallucinations and schizophrenia are amongst the mental health impacts of cannabis use.

(Source: Archives of General Psychiatry, 1 March 2010).

DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-

This is the latest in a number of scientific studies that link cannabis use to mental health problems.

As cannabis is the most widely used drug in Australia and surveys are showing that first use is getting earlier in childhood, this study is concerning for users, their families and health authorities.

The mental health problems showing in young people proves that it is now time to have early intervention programs to get users out of cannabis use quickly.

Known cannabis users and those with mental health problems should be the target for early intervention.

Cannabis use is associated with many other health problems so the benefit to the users and health authorities is larger than mental health.

Now is an excellent time to introduce an intensive drug demand reduction campaign with a diversion of identified cannabis users into rehabilitation to get them free of cannabis use.

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Cannabis & Schizophrenia Linked to Shooting

The recent shooting of a US Congresswoman is directly linked to long-term cannabis use and schizophrenia of the arrested offender.

Cannabis is not a harmless recreational drug but is linked to the serious mental disorder of paranoid schizophrenia.

The offender had a long history of cannabis use starting from school.

The relationship of schizophrenia to violent behavior is almost completely determined by drug use.

The coexistence of substance use and schizophrenia increases the risk of violence more than three fold.

The combination of serious mental illness and substance use worsens both disorders.

(Source: Institute for Behavior and Health USA 20 January 2011)

DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-

The linking of long term cannabis use and severe mental illness to the attempted murder of an elected official in the United States confirms the clear medical research that violence and cannabis use are linked.

Paranoid delusional schizophrenia from cannabis use disorganizes the users’ world so that it bears little relationship to reality.

This is why public figures like elected officials are a target.

In fact cannabis use not only makes the symptoms of mental illness worse but it reduces the effectiveness of treatments.

Reducing the use of cannabis would pay off in a safer community and lessen the risks to high profile community representatives.

Effective court supervised early intervention drug rehabilitation that leads to a drug free life makes our leaders safer.

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Cannabis Easy to Obtain

The latest report from the Australian Crime Commission discloses that cannabis cultivation and distribution is large scale, diverse and entrenched.

Cannabis is readily available and still the most widely used illicit drug in Australia.

Criminal involvement with cannabis involves individuals and groups operating at various levels of sophistication and capacity.

Cannabis demand is likely to remain stable over the next two years.

The Crime Commission advises that cannabis use has a widespread impact on individuals and the general community.

(Source: Organized Crime in Australia {Unclassified report} from Australian Crime Commission released 15 April 2011)

DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-

Australia’s high demand for cannabis makes it profitable for criminal involvement.

A key way to block money going to criminals involved in the cannabis market is to reduce the number of users in the community.

Compulsory diversion of identified cannabis users into detoxification and rehabilitation is world’s best practice to reduce demand.

Medical research has confirmed that cannabis use causes cancer, psychosis, depression, brain damage, schizophrenia, increased infection, suppression of the immune system and addiction to users.

As well, cannabis use is associated with road trauma and work injuries for users and non users harmed by road and work accidents.

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Synthetic Cannabis Ban

Western Australia is the first state in Australia to ban fake cannabis.

Those that supply synthetic cannabis in Western Australia will face up to 25 years jail or fines of up to $100,000.

Tasmania is to ban the fake cannabis at the end of June 2011.

Victoria is preparing legislation to implement a similar ban on synthetic cannabis.

The fake cannabis has names of Kronic, Voodoo, Purple Haze, Kaos and Mango Kush.

The synthetic cannabis is made from legal herbs that have been sprayed by a synthetic chemical that mimics THC.

These synthetic cannabis products invoke panic attacks and alter brain function which can contribute to accidents.

It’s a multimillion dollar industry.

(Source: Sydney Morning Herald 15/6/11, Melbourne Age 17/6/11, Melbourne Herald Sun 15/6/11)

DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-

This ban should be implemented by all state and territory governments.

As well, the implements used to smoke the synthetic cannabis should also be banned.

On the grounds of community safety and safer roads alone any ban is supportable.

However, as has been disclosed, the human brain function changes bringing on panic attacks and the long term mental health implications for users are yet to be fully understood.