Pot worse than stimulants

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Pot worse than stimulants

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4709592a19716.html

AAP | Monday, 29 September 2008

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Reuters

HARSHING THE BUZZ: About 300,000 Australians smoke cannabis daily, and they're more prone to suffer from disorders like depression and anxiety because of it.

 

 

 

 

Cannabis smokers are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and psychosis than stimulant drug takers, according to Australian statistics suggesting the herb's toll on mental health has been underestimated.

 

The impact of amphetamines on mental state is well known but a new national report shows dope smokers display higher rates of several psychological symptoms when visiting their doctor.

Of patients who mentioned cannabis use to their GP, 48 per cent had a psychological problem, including 19 per cent with depression and nine per cent with psychosis. Six per cent had anxiety.

Only 31 per cent of stimulant users reported similar problems, with significantly lower rates of all conditions, according to the latest bulletin released by the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre in Sydney., professor Jan Copeland, said the results confirm the dangers of the drug, especially for the 300,000 Australians who smoke it daily.

"It was unexpected, given what we hear about amphetamine-related psychotic symptoms, but it goes to show what a terrible impact cannabis is having on users," Prof Copeland said.

"The delusions, hallucinations and paranoia can be very distressing and people are feeling it."

The results, in data collected from 1,000 randomly-selected GPs, also revealed that mentioning cannabis use to a doctor was very rare, with the drug named in just 19,000 consultations nationwide each year.

Users were more likely to be male, young, unemployed or on a low income and indigenous.

"The low numbers are a major concern given the sheer number of users and the effects we know that use is having," Prof Copeland said.

She said too many users still believed cannabis had few health consequences or were nervous mentioning a drug habit to a doctor.

But Australian Medical Association chair of general practice Dr Rod Pearce said stressed the importance of consulting a doctor.

"Illegality is a non-issue for us and it absolutely has to be given the increasing body of research linking cannabis smoking with psychiatric illness," Dr Pearce said.

"I'm not being wowserish either. This is a serious problem."

About 1.5 million Australians have used cannabis in the past year, with 750,000 smoking it weekly.

Studies show most people do not experience major problems with occasional use but heavy use can lead to depression, memory loss, lung damage, low sex drive and even brain shrinkage.