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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.

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Cannabis Easy To Get

Cannabis is readily available to Australians with 94 per cent of users claiming it’s easy to get.

One in three Australians admit to ever having used cannabis.

One in ten Australians over 14 years used cannabis recently with increases in all age groups.

As a result, Australian cannabis seizures and arrests are the highest reported in the last decade.

Imports of cannabis into Australia are mainly by mail from Canada and the Netherlands with Queensland as the largest destination.

(Source: Australian Crime Commission Illicit Drug Data Report 2010-11)

DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-

Australia is a key market for cannabis with seeds for local cultivation.

Using state of the art cultivation cannabis is now produced with higher toxins that are scientifically proven to induce mental health problems.

With one in ten Australians regularly using higher toxin cannabis we can expect more psychosis, depression, anxiety, learning deficiencies, memory loss, impaired motor functions and vehicle accidents.

Rather than trying to stop cannabis supply with record border seizures, major efforts are now needed to reduce the demand.

The clear evidence is that cannabis use leads to other illicit drugs.

Reducing the number of cannabis users is cost effective by health savings, fewer accidents, policing savings and better citizens.

As Australian cannabis users are detected they need to be diverted into rehabilitation to get them free of drug use.

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Cannabis Driving Impairment

A major debate in the U.S.A. has erupted around how drivers are impaired by the THC in cannabis.

The Institute for Behavior and Health research shows that there is terrible carnage on the roads from cannabis use.

The research is showing that driving after smoking cannabis almost doubles the risk of being in a serious or fatal crash.

But there are no reliable tests either for saliva, blood or urine that are available to determine driving impairment from cannabis use.

Cannabis causes dizziness, slowed reaction time, drifting and swerving for impaired drivers.

In the U.S.A. the percentage of seriously wounded drivers who later tested for drug use increased by 18 per cent between 2005 and 2011.

Research by Colombia University showed that cannabis is often used with other drugs which compound the impairment.

There is no safe level of THC for driving.

(Source: Huff Post Denver online news, 25 March 2012 )

DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-

This United States experience shows that cannabis use and impaired driving are becoming an increasing problem.

Like the U.S.A., cannabis is the most widely used drug in Australia.

Likewise our drug impaired driving is causing motor accidents and the related trauma.

Drug impaired drivers should be diverted into detoxification and then rehabilitation to reduce our road trauma.

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Cannabis Causes Motor Accidents

Driving under the influence of cannabis was associated with a significantly increased risk of motor vehicle collisions compared to unimpaired driving.

The cannabis use is especially associated with fatal collisions.

Cannabis impairs performance of the cognitive and motor tasks necessary for safe driving therefore increasing the risk of collision.

Young drivers under the influence of cannabis surpassed rates of drinking alcohol and driving.

The higher the THC of cannabis used – the higher the risk of collision.

Data for fatal collisions show an increasing presence of drugs other than alcohol used in conjunction with cannabis.

(Source: British Medical Journal published 9 February 2012)

DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-

This timely medical study shows the impact of drug driving and its costs.

The new hydroponically produced cannabis with its higher THC content mean that the risks are increasing.

Many times the victims of the collision with drug impaired drivers are pedestrians, other motorists and their families.

When cannabis and other illicit drug impaired drivers are identified, they should be diverted into drug rehabilitation before they are involved in a fatal road accident.

Warnings to drug impaired drivers do not lead to rehabilitation and the ceasing of drug use so the risks continue.