Pubdate: Tue, 28 Jun 2005
Source: Scotsman (UK)
Contact:  The Scotsman Publications Ltd 2005
Website: http://www.scotsman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/406
Author: Mark Porter
Note: Mark Porter was awarded the MBE for services to healthcare in 
the New Year's Honours list. Along with his media commitments, he 
still works part time as a GP at his surgery in Stroud, Gloucestershire.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

BLOW TO DRUG'S SAFETY

CANNABIS use among schoolchildren has risen tenfold over the past 20
years, and there's growing concern that teenagers' brains appear to be
particularly susceptible to the drug, putting them at risk of mental
illnesses such as schizophrenia.

According to the latest study by the Schools Health Education Unit,
one in 16 12-year-olds and one in four 15-year-olds admits to having
used the drug. Studies have shown that schizophrenia is more common
among regular cannabis users than in those not using the drug - around
seven times more common in people who have used the drug on at least
50 occasions. The lifetime risk of developing schizophrenia for the
average person is around one in 100, so regular cannabis users have a
one-in-15 chance of developing an illness that can last a lifetime.

The latest research suggests that the younger the brain, the higher
the risk. A study in New Zealand found that children who had started
using cannabis by the age of 15 were nearly five times more likely to
develop serious mental illness by their late twenties than those who
started at 18.

I used to take a fairly liberal stance on cannabis and have compared
it favourably to alcohol and tobacco, each of which exact a
considerably higher toll on our society than all illegal drugs
combined. But while only a small proportion of cannabis users will be
unlucky enough to develop schizophrenia, I can't think of a single
patient of mine with a serious mental illness who hasn't used the
drug. Hardly evidence-based medicine, I know, but cannabis has become
a depressingly common feature in the history of young people with
serious mental illnesses.

Cannabis is perceived by many as a "safe" drug, but there is now
growing evidence that it is anything but. For more advice and
information on schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses, visit
www.sane.org.uk.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake