AUSTRALIAN researchers have developed world-first guidelines to help people care for someone addicted to cannabis. One in three people have used marijuana and about one in six are addicted, but until now carers worldwide have been given conflicting advice on how to identify problem use, advise someone to seek help or cope when a user is behaving irrationally. Researchers from the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre, in Sydney, and Orygen Youth Health, in Melbourne, collaborated on the project, studying websites, brochures and self-help books. [continues 211 words]
ILLICIT drug use is as high as ever among baby boomers. Experts fear the numbers will climb higher in the next 20 years as people continue to use the drugs of their youth. One in 11 men and one in 18 women aged over 50 are using illicit drugs because they have more relaxed views of drug-taking than their parents, a report has found. The report, published in the latest issue of the quarterly magazine Of Substance, found that between 2004 and 2007 the use of illicit drugs fell in every age group except 50 to 59. [continues 276 words]
ILLICIT drug use is rising among baby boomers. Experts fear the numbers will climb even higher in the next 20 years as people continue to use the drugs of their youth. One in 11 men and one in 18 women aged over 50 are using illicit drugs because they have more relaxed views of drug-taking than their parents, a report has found. The report, published in the latest issue of the quarterly magazine Of Substance, found that between 2004 and 2007 the use of illicit drugs fell in every age group except the 50-59 one. [continues 283 words]
A COMMON medication used to treat people with bipolar disorder could help cannabis addicts kick the habit without suffering withdrawal symptoms such as aggression and depression, a study has found. Researchers at Corella Drug Treatment Services and the University of NSW studied 20 people who used cannabis every day for at least nine years, prescribing them 500 milligrams of lithium twice a day for seven days. They found that three months after the treatment most of the users were smoking cannabis less often, and many had given up completely. [continues 338 words]
