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FEARS - Cannabis related health problems soar
Number of cannabis users treated doubled in four years
THE Government is sitting on a mental health timebomb because of soaring cannabis abuse.
Shocking new statistics show the number of cannabis users treated in NHS hospitals has more than DOUBLED in four years.
Figures from local health authorities show 16,500 adults a year now seek medical help for mental and physical problems linked to the drug.
And more than 9,000 CHILDREN also need hospital treatment - pushing up the total to 500 people per week.
The drug can cause psychosis, paranoia and schizophrenia, as well as high blood pressure heart disease and lung disease - including cancer.
Last night anti-cannabis campaigners said the figures proved sacked Government drugs advisor David Nutt was wrong to claim smoking cannabis was less harmful than drinking. They called for an immediate crackdown to tackle the growing problem.
Last year the News of the World exposed how UK firms were able to use a legal loophole to sell cannabis seeds to the public. It is legal to buy and possess the seeds "as long as they aren't grown".
Last night Debra Bell of parents' anti-drugs pressure group Talking About Cannabis said: "These companies are profiting out of people's misery.
"They are not deluding anyone if they say people just buy the seeds then do nothing with them."
A Home Office spokesman said there were no plans to curb the selling of cannabis seeds.
ian.kirby@notw.co.uk
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This article has 8 comments
I am a psychiatric nurse working in the community and I have many patients and increasing numbers of young people who are cannabis users who have developed mental health problems including psychosis and schizophrenia. It is too much of a coincidence that all these thousands of people are developing problems and all happen to be users of cannabis. Noone is saying that Cannabis use causes schizophrenia.. but it makes you more likely to develop psychotic symptoms than someone who does not use the drug, therefore more likely to end up with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. PLEASE stop flooding our services and stamp down on cannabis use in this country!!!
By J. grint.. Posted November 17 2009 at 9:27 AM.
You kidding steveo?
Your daughter appears to be on the pill.
Next time you find pills in your daughters room do a google search lol.
By Ian.. Posted November 15 2009 at 10:41 PM.
Figures from local health authorities ,, ha ha ha ha haaa ,,,they must be raking it in , nowonder they are baking these figures
By youal shmokzit-yenar.. Posted November 15 2009 at 9:33 PM.
"These companies are profiting out of people's misery"
Hmm and tobacco companies arnt? what about alcohol? These people need to start going off facts not rumors. Where do they get these people from? off the street?
By Misc.. Posted November 15 2009 at 7:03 PM.
Not sure if u were being sarcastic there Steveo, but a simple google search will tell you that Triphasil is a contraceptive pill.
By jamie whiting.. Posted November 15 2009 at 4:25 PM.
Labour drug policy has failed.
By Steve tea.. Posted November 15 2009 at 9:06 AM.
"The drug can cause psychosis, paranoia and schizophrenia, as well as high blood pressure heart disease and lung disease - including cancer. "
so what causes schizophrenia in the people who have never smoked it ?, easy to blame it on that, how do you know they wouldnt have developed it anyway? Also, smoking tobacco causes the HBP, HD, lung disease and cancer too.....but thats legal and the govt make money from it too !
By alex mckinnon.. Posted November 15 2009 at 2:39 AM.
How many of these people were ORDERED by the court to attend treatment?
I have seen many times where someone is given a choice to attend treatment if they plead guilty for possession of small personal amounts of cannabis.
Rehab is big business after all, and the government must do it's part to support it.
But I got one question though...I found these pills in my daughters room last week. She's 16 and says that she has been taking these for the past year or so. She said she needs these pills every day and goes into a panic if she can't get her daily fix. I took them away one time and she went hysterical. I'm worried that these are some kind of recreation drug. Her mood has changed drastically over the past year and I think it may be the drugs. I think she needs treatment but I don't think there is any kind of treatment that can help her. These pills are called Triphasil or something. Should I be worried?
By Steveo.. Posted November 15 2009 at 2:00 AM.