24/10/2007 00:00:00
UK: Cannabis sets deprived on a spiral of decline
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DEPRIVED youngsters who become involved in heavy cannabis use are less
likely than their peers to be able to pull themselves out of the
downward spiral the drug causes, a new study has found.
The report, for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, also warns that drugs
workers may not be treating cannabis users' concerns about their
behaviour seriously enough.
Researchers from the University of Bedfordshire discovered heavy
cannabis abuse among vulnerable young people could worsen their existing
social problems, such as low educational achievement, homelessness and
unemployment.
Professor Neil McKeganey, of the University of Glasgow, who oversaw the
project, said not enough studies had examined the lives of heavy users.
He said: "It is clear that at a high level of consumption, cannabis can
cause major problems and exacerbate problems that are already there,
particularly in the transition to adulthood - doing well at school,
getting into employment, forming relationships. Cannabis can overtake
the more normal aspects of their lives.
"When the individual has very few alternative positive activities, the
cannabis can acquire a momentum of its own and become increasingly
important for that individual, causing them to disengage from more
public activities.
"For young people with more positive life choices, it's easier for them
to recognise their cannabis consumption can impact their life choices
and they start to consume less."
David Liddell, director of Scottish Drugs Forum, said the issue should
be looked at "the other way around" - with social problems being factors
in development of problematic drug use.
He said: "There are strong links between poverty, deprivation and lack
of aspiration and the onset of serious drug problems. What we need to do
is to intervene earlier in the lives of our most vulnerable young people."
The report also suggests youth workers see cannabis use as a less
serious problem than cocaine or heroin abuse.
The researchers say this may be because of their differing experience of
cannabis, which was not available at such a high strength in previous
decades.
Dr McKeganey said: "It's really quite worrying. It suggests service
providers need to be much more attuned to what young people are saying
about their cannabis consumption, and if they are saying they are having
difficulties then the service provider shouldn't be thinking that's
probably OK because they are not using heroin."
THE GROWING EVIDENCE
THE Joseph Rowntree Foundation research is the latest in a long line
exposing the detrimental effects of cannabis.
New Zealand researchers found young users risked later substance use,
juvenile offending, severe truancy, school dropout, anxiety, depression
and suicidal thoughts. Andrew Johns, of London, found short-lived
adverse effects included psychotic states and regular users risked
dependence.
And a Department of Health study this summer warned smoking a single
joint raised the risk of schizophrenia by more than 40 per cent.
http://news.scotsman.com/health.cfm?id=1693582007
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12938
Author:
The Scotsman via UKCIA
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