Advice on ... Cannabis
Thursday, January 10, 2008
One in five teenagers and young adults admit to using cannabis despite growing fears about its long-term effects. DrugScope's Ruth Goldsmith explains why it can be harmful and what policies youth projects should have in place.
Q: How many young people use cannabis?
Cannabis, currently a class C drug, is the most commonly used illegal substance in the UK. Figures from the Department of Health show that 10 per cent of 11- to 15-year-olds reported using cannabis in 2006 and the separate British Crime Survey study, Drug Misuse Declared, found 20 per cent of 16- to 24-year-olds use the substance. Cannabis use in the UK is high compared with many European countries, although its use is declining and has been for some time.
Q: Why do young people take it and what are the short-term effects?
The majority use it simply because they enjoy it. But, for some users, cannabis can provide an escape from difficult emotions caused by problems at school or personal relationships.
Effects will depend on the expectations, mood and motivation of the user, but the most common are a pleasurable state of relaxation, talkativeness and bouts of the giggles.
However, there are downsides to the drug. Users may find that their short-term memory functions less well, or that they find it hard to concentrate and lose their co-ordination. Forgetfulness and confusion increase at higher doses and inexperienced users can feel anxious.
Q: Why is cannabis considered harmful?
The health risks associated with cannabis have recently been the subject of intense public debate, prompted by questions over its potency and links to mental health problems.
Herbal varieties, often illicitly cultivated in large-scale 'farms', increasingly dominate the UK cannabis market. Much of this herbal cannabis is 'skunk' - a generic term for herbal cannabis with a high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content. Research shows that the THC content of skunk has doubled over the past decade, despite unsubstantiated media claims that it is 10 times stronger than in previous years.
But any increase in potency is worrying, given the growing evidence that heavy cannabis use may be linked with the development of mental health problems. It has not been proven that cannabis can trigger mental illness in an otherwise completely healthy individual but evidence suggests that very heavy cannabis use among those with latent or existing mental disorders can aggravate their condition.
Q: What should I do if I suspect a young person is using cannabis?
Before you respond, you need to establish what policies are already in place in your organisation. All youth services should have a clear, up-to-date drugs policy for support centre managers, workers and young people. Services should have a range of responses that include both support and disciplinary actions, as well as clear guidance on the recording of drug-related incidents.
If you suspect or know that a young person is intoxicated by cannabis, is in possession of the drug or is dealing it on or around youth work premises, you have a responsibility to act. The Misuse of Drugs Act makes it an offence for the management to knowingly permit the supply of any illegal substance on their premises or to allow premises, including gardens or grounds, to be used for the smoking of cannabis.
Workers should inform their manager and keep a record of the incident and any immediate action taken, such as temporarily excluding the young person.
Confiscation of a suspected illegal drug is allowed, but substances should not be disposed of. Instead, the police should be contacted without delay. Youth workers are not obliged to provide the police with the name of a young person involved, or suspected of involvement, in a drug-related incident.
Contact with the young people involved should be maintained and, where appropriate, they should be referred to other services for support.
- Ruth Goldsmith is the press and communications officer at DrugScope
MORE INFO
- DrugScope and Alcohol Concern provide guidance for youth services. www.drugscope.org.uk
- FRANK is a national drug awareness campaign. www.talktofrank.com
- Drug Education Forum is a group of organisations providing drug education to young people. www.drugeducationforum.org.uk
- Release offers advice and referral on drug-related legal problems. www.release.org.uk.