Aussies know drug risks but do it anyway

[WantDaChronic]

ALMOST all young Australians understand that drugs and alcohol can damage their mental health, but this knowledge is doing nothing to dampen their enthusiasm for substance use, a study has found.

A national survey of almost 4000 teenagers and young adults has found that more than 85 per cent know cannabis, alcohol and tobacco are harmful and that cutting back would reduce the risk of depression and other mental health problems.

 

But the findings, published in the latest Medical Journal of Australia, were vastly at odds with the high rates of drinking, smoking and drug taking among young Australians.

 

Researchers from the ORYGEN Research Centre at the University of Melbourne said this proved tha "knowledge does not translate into behaviour'', and shows new campaign strategies are needed to bring rates down.

 

"Our findings suggest that simply raising awareness of the link between substance use and mental disorder in the general population is not sufficient,'' lead researcher Dr Dan Lubman said.

 

To change their behaviour, a young person would need to believe that they could be vulnerable to developing a mental illness, and that abstaining or limiting substances could help them avoid this, he said.

 

The study involved 3746 people aged 12 to 25 who were presented with a vignette portraying young people with schizophrenia, depression or social phobia, and questioned them about the role of different substances.

 

More than 85 per cent agreed that alcohol, tobacco and marijuana were harmful for the young people portrayed and that avoiding alcohol or cannabis could reduce the risk of mental illness.

 

Females were much more likely to link substances with mental health risks than males. And older participants aged 18 to 25 were less likely than younger people to identify the risk, particularly in relation to cannabis.

 

"Importantly, young people with higher levels of psychological distress were also less likely to report alcohol, marijuana and tobacco use as harmful,'' Dr Lubman wrote.

 

The researchers said public health campaigns should provide clear, evidence-based information specifically targeting particular groups of young people.

Source: www.news.com.au

 

 

To change their behaviour, a young person would need to believe that they could be vulnerable to developing a mental illness, and that abstaining or limiting substances could help them avoid this, he said.

 

Females were much more likely to link substances with mental health risks than males. And older participants aged 18 to 25 were less likely than younger people to identify the risk, particularly in relation to cannabis.

you'd think with them knowing the 18-25's are calling bullshit about the mental issues caused by drugs, in particular cannabis, they wouldnt be trying to make the teenagers believe they will get a mental illness from using drugs sure they might scare some kids away from drugs which will be a great thing, but once they grow up and start thinking for themself they'll try other drugs, not end up in a mental ward and then re-evaluate everything they have been told about drugs in the past

[Beans]

Interesting indeed.

[Tarnicus]

but once they grow up and start thinking for themself they'll try other drugs, not end up in a mental ward and then re-evaluate everything they have been told about drugs in the past

 

I wouldn't be so sure. Take a look at the mental health forums at Depressionet and do a search for 'marijuana' as I did last night. The responses you'll find are pathetic unfortunately, with the typical story being something like:

 

"Hi my name is Bill and Ive been addicted to marijuana for 5 years now. DONT let people tell you this evil drug is a soft one, as I have personally seen it destroy the lives of many. Marijuana took over my life so much that I'm too lazy to do anything but smoke pot..."

 

You get the idea. I certainly might come across as a little harsh here, but after a decent amount of research and reflection, I'm getting pretty pissed off at the way in which pot is portrayed.

 

Why is it that people are meant to exercise personal responsibility with tobacco and alcohol and prescription drug use, but not with illegal drugs?

[babybear]

i always belaved they would of had to have had a prob before them , it just seams to awaken it

[Tarnicus]

i always belaved they would of had to have had a prob before them , it just seams to awaken it

 

Or someone uses a drug in the hopes it will fix their problems, or uses it as temporary relief from mental pain as it helps the user to block out negatives.

[babybear]

If only pot blocked out negitive shit eh ? an numb the mind eh ? i think if anything it makes u think about things longer an harder before u just "jump" out an do things

 

Then also ppl need to realize that problems only get fixed when one actuly gets off their butt an changes their life or lifes situtation ,

Edited September 3, 2007 by babybear

[DownUnderDoper]

I was doing some research whilst looking to reply to this topic when I came across this little GEM of a discusstion paper from The Australia Institute.

 

Drug Law Reform: Beyond Prohibition

March 2006, A Macintosh

 

Prohibition has failed to significantly reduce illicit drug markets and has caused greater harm to society than it has saved. The evidence shows that a treatment-orientated approach to drug issues would be far more effective in reducing drug-related harm.

 

http://www.tai.org.au/documents/dp_fulltext/DP83.pdf

 

It deals with all drugs not just cannabis, but it is easily the most well presented paper on not only why prohibition has failed so dismally, but shows how it has caused more harm than it has prevented.

 

I don't know if this paper has been discussed here before, but if anyone is considering writing Letters to Editors or politicians or whatever, this paper makes no claims that do not have a study or report to back it up.

 

It's fairly big at 148 pages, but it is comprehensive.

[failure]

Perhaps the title tells the whole story. They do understand the risks of (marijuana) it, hence they aren't afraid to try. I suspect the information provided freely on the internet would help people understand the reality of the health risks with cannabis, ie: that it is overall less harmful to people in general than alcohol/tobacco.

[grok]

i have a mental health problem.(bi-polar)

i have been institutionalised.

i have been force fed a cocktail of drugs.

 

there is a belief/fear amongst medical practioners that pot causes people to go insane (manic episodes)

 

there is also a lot of anecdotal evidence that marijuana is an effective medicine to change your mental state out of severe depression into a relatively more 'normal' state...the evidence is only anecdotal since scientific studies to back up or disprove these claims are hard to implement due to legal reasons....some studies have been done however....one of such was a 1994 survey of 79 mental patients which found that those who used cannabis reported "relief from depression,anxiety,insomnia, and physical discomfort, as well as fewer hospitilisations"

 

to read more about the effects of cannabis and manic depression you may like to try this site by clicking here

 

 

...the more knowledge we have....the stronger we can become...the stronger we become the more we can say...fuck you jack i grok it.