Cannabis hotline plan to help users kick drug

[dsyfer]

Original Article

 

Cannabis hotline plan to help users kick drug habit

Adam Cresswell, Health editor

December 14, 2005

 

CANNABIS users trying to wean themselves off the drug could get a federally funded hotline following the success of similar schemes targeting tobacco.

 

People who visit their doctor about their mental health may also be screened for cannabis use, under recommendations by an expert panel advising Parliamentary Health Secretary Christopher Pyne.

 

The five-member panel - comprising some of the nation's leading authorities on cannabis and its effects on psychiatric health - was announced last month after reports in The Australian about the drug's adverse effects.

 

At a meeting in Melbourne yesterday the panel proposed that the Government commission two studies on cannabis and its effects.

 

One study would look at the effect of cannabis on the development of adolescent brains. The other would consider the different penalties in each state and what effect they have on cannabis use and mental health problems.

 

The national tobacco quitline has proved highly successful - research in 1998 found one in 25 smokers called the service following an advertising campaign containing graphic warnings on the damage caused by smoking. One year after calling, 29 per cent of the smokers had succeeded in quitting, and half had not smoked for six months.

 

But Mr Pyne said more work on the quitline and screening proposals was needed before they could be approved. If cannabis screening were implemented in local surgeries, it would allow tailored services and advice to be given to patients seeking treatment for mental health problems who tested positive for the drug.

 

"I think it's reasonably obvious that screening for cannabis use in mental health should have been in place a long time ago, and the fact it isn't is a bit of a surprise and we want to talk to the states about that," he said.

 

Experience with the tobacco quitline, which allows smokers to call in without giving their names, suggested a similar cannabis line could help people stop using the drug by making it easier to get advice and information.

 

Panel member Robert Ali, a public health physician and member of the Australian National Council on Drugs, said there had been a "very significant change in the way cannabis is used" over the past 20 years and the "harms of use are becoming more manifest".

 

Professor Ali said the proposed cannabis quitline was a sensible way forward, and experts needed to consider the "best mix of legal mechanisms" to deter use.

People really need to do some research about the difference between tobacco (physically addictive) and cannabis (not physically addictive, but can bcome emotionaly addictive)

[freako420]

Hmm. Also, all that screening for cannabis in mental health will do is give a convenient scapegoat for the illness and improper diagnosis and treatment most likely. :scratchin

 

Never mind that marijuana can be used to actually treat many forms of mental illness, oh no, we must screen for it and then say that it CAUSED the illness.

 

Sheesh. :thumbdown

[jabez]

Cannabis smoking is a symptom of mental illness not a cause. Who pays these morons :angry:

[wildflower]

its a non-profit scam (technically its called a "scheme"). A business plan to carve a slice from our tax dollars to fatten the pockets of some cunning business men.

1) create a biased opinion to support your idea.

2) pay "experts" to "panel" a proposal that will support your opinion, and have as little public debate on the issue. These are PAID experts afterall.

3) influence public but mostly government opinion.

4) government writes you fat cheque.

5) government proclaims to be proactive on the mental health issue.

6) profit.

 

All these "organisations" with a .org website and hotline basically do absolutely NOTHING to help society. Remember SIDS? Red Nose day? One of the biggest non-profit scams in australian history (apart from most catholic/christian based charitys that are still ripping us off today).

These organisations self perpetuate, the public funds they are given and then inturn spent to pay for "expert" opinions that forever support the idea that the "problem" still exists. These "expert" opinions are in turn used lobby government to then provide them with even more funds.

They sit around and exploit labor i.e work for the dole, get them to design brochures and pamphlets, or get them to ring around large corporations to get a cut from their "donation" budget (all large organisations have these) non-profit organisations are very competitive with each other.

Most do not hold trust accounts, be audited and provide reconciliations. All dont pay tax or collect GST. Alot of these organisations are set up by the same old business men that have been setting them up for decades. Most are very powerful and very rich, have friends in government and get their wives, daughters and friends to work in these non-profit organisations. (ok im stretching it here, but you get the picture hehe . People that run these organisations pay themselves very well indeed - six figures people. Its non-profit afterall.

I know one charity in the mid 90's that spent its donation money to build a new tennis court for the wife. What paid for all the brochures and marketing? Well, it was a charity after all! it was done for free!

stay away from these vultures.

:thumbdown

[Doob]

bastards!

me angry!

*turns green*

HULK ANGRY SMASH

[WantDaChronic]

if people genuinely wanted to quit smoking marijuana it wouldnt take a whole great deal of effort...all you have to do is tell your dealers, friends and family that you are quitting for good this time and even if you say you are buying for a friend, dont sell it to you...or if you are growing, give/sell the lights to a friend or pawn shop, kill or give the plants away and in general, stay the fuck away from cannabis and people associated with it

[wildflower]

well im actually nearly 2 years without. not my choice mind you - i just ran out . But im proof its not addictive. But if i could vape it everyday i could, anything is better than voltaren and alcohol (which i just kicked 2 weeks ago).

cant wait!

also

and im also proof that i was always mental before i touched weed

Edited December 14, 2005 by wildflower

[Guest niall]

I think it sounds pretty sensible myself, which in itself is surprising coming from Pyne. But honestly, if people have a cannabis problem they should have somewhere to go for help and advice. If cannabis is contributing to mental illness, and it really does look like it's not helping for a small minority of people, then the more awareness of this issue the better.

 

Minors should not be using cannabis, period. There are significantly greater risks for minors than there are for adult cannabis users - depression, greater incidence of cannabis induced "psychosis", structural and developmental problems with an as yet immature brain.... The evidence still does not show a causal relationship, but seriously guys it's not looking good for adolescents. Adults are a completely different thing, and I would like to see the same studies conducted on adults for comparison.

 

Hysterical, biased research is bad - but the proposals above seems like good, common sense to me. Cannabis can cause problems, and the sooner we recognise this the better we can deal with these problems and identify who is most at risk and discourage use by those who are more likely to experience harm - minors, the mentally ill, and those with certain medical conditions. You can't expect a euphoric intoxicant with mild dependence qualities to be legalised and regulated without adequate health policies to deal with the inevitible problems that some people will experience as a result of their use or abuse of cannabis.

[freako420]

Hysterical, biased research is bad - but the proposals above seems like good, common sense to me.  Cannabis can cause problems, and the sooner we recognise this the better we can deal with these problems and identify who is most at risk and discourage use by those who are more likely to experience harm - minors, the mentally ill, and those with certain medical conditions.  You can't expect a euphoric intoxicant with mild dependence qualities to be legalised and regulated without adequate health policies to deal with the inevitible problems that some people will experience as a result of their use or abuse of cannabis.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Marijuana DOES NOT CAUSE MENTAL ILLNESS.

 

Thankyou.

[WantDaChronic]

Marijuana DOES NOT CAUSE MENTAL ILLNESS.

 

Thankyou.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

it can kick in mental ilness in those prone to it, i have seen that with my own eyes...it also turns memory into swiss cheese in those who have used it from their teen years, im living proof of that and it also has alot of withdrawal effects like insomnia, sore joints, etc....

 

while the risks are there, as it has been stated before, that is mainly for teenagers and young adults....the withdrawal effects depend person to person and how much you smoke, been there, done that, i wasnt the nicest person to be around for 2 weeks untill the cravings stopped