Tassie expert backs cannabis warnings

[Tom]

NEW fears about the dangers of smoking cannabis have been supported by a Tasmanian expert.

 

Launceston psychiatrist Eric Ratcliff said his experience with patients who smoked cannabis was consistent with the alarming findings of new British research.

 

The UK study, reported in The Mercury on Thursday, found one in four cannabis users faced alarmingly higher risks of mental illness -- contrary to the belief that it is a fairly harmless drug.

 

"It soon became evident that patients with schizophrenia who used cannabis did not respond to treatment as well as would otherwise have been expected," Dr Ratcliff said. "Some improved greatly if they stopped using cannabis."

 

Dr Ratcliff said most psychiatrists suspected youthful cannabis use was associated with the development of serious psychosis in many cases.

 

The State Opposition continued its attack on the Government's attitude to the issue yesterday.

 

Liberal health spokeswoman Sue Napier said Health Minister David Llewellyn was taking an "arrogant, head-in-the-sand approach" to the dangers of smoking cannabis. She called on the State Government to better educate Tasmanians about the dangers.

 

Mr Llewellyn said there were already drug education and awareness campaigns in Tasmanian schools.

 

Mrs Napier said: "It is simply astounding that our Health Minister would attempt to downplay the need for an expanded, strong, public education program warning of the negative health impacts of smoking cannabis, in light of the growing confirmation of the link between mental illness and cannabis use."

 

Tasmanian Greens MHA Tim Morris said the Government needed to do more to further drug education, and fund preventive campaign strategies regarding drug use, whether for legal drugs such as tobacco and alcohol, or illegal substances.

 

"The Greens call on the State Government to prioritise the development of harm-minimisation strategies," he said.

 

The Greens have previously tabled legislation in State Parliament to decriminalise medicinal cannabis.

 

Mr Morris said it had been a response to calls from within the medical fraternity for cannabis to be used to provide pain relief for chronic sufferers and the terminally ill.

 

Author:HEATHER LOW CHOY

Date:January 22, 2005

Source:The Mercury

Copyright:The Mercury

 

Any medical "expert" that is even half decent abandons Tasmania for Vic and NSW as they can earn heaps more there, I think the guys is just some loser trying to make a name for himself.

 

[Pickle]

The UK study, reported in The Mercury on Thursday, found one in four cannabis users faced alarmingly higher risks of mental illness -- contrary to the belief that it is a fairly harmless drug.

 

It has been said many times before, people with mental problems seek solutions and at about the same time as schitzophrenia is starting to affect people they happen to be in a period of their lives when they come into contact with drugs. The real problem here is, so called educated people consider the small slice of the population, schitzophrenics, as a relflection of the population as a whole. No wonder they get skewed results. I wonder what percentage of cancer sufferers face alarmingly higher risks of being sick from chemo.

 

"It soon became evident that patients with schizophrenia who used cannabis did not respond to treatment as well as would otherwise have been expected," Dr Ratcliff said. "Some improved greatly if they stopped using cannabis."

 

I wonder when it will become evident that this psychiatrist is dealing predominantly with people who have schitzophrenia and any conclusions he has drawn are to be applied to schitzophrenics.

 

For a so called "expert' and well educated person, as psychiatrists are, i would think you would give what you say in public a little thought. After all, the last thing you need is someone who has been 'destroying their mind for the last 20 years' to show how little thought you have put into what is probably the defining point of your career and very likely the last 15 seconds you will ever get.

 

You probably look down your nose at the 'sheep' and think you are doing them a great service as you try to herd them around. You probably consider yourself to be a leader in your field and well thought of among your peers and fellows. You probably think those peers and fellows look to your statements and feel respect and admiration for your depth of perception and ability to define this problem from your vast experience. So let me ask you, "How does it feel to be cannon fodder for a media beat up?".