Cannabis clinic clears the air

[Tom]

The Cannabis Treatment Service in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta is so successful that it now has the interest of international medical experts. Dr Jon Currie has treated over 400 cannabis-dependant patients at the clinic during a 12-month trial. Withdrawal from cannabis, says Dr Currie, can be "really very difficult — they get angry, irritated, aggressive, so they often just don't stop".

 

One of Dr Currie's patients, Julia Norcott, was dependent on marijuana for more than 20 years, "I'd get up every morning and have to have a few cones straight away to start the day," she admits. A combination of medication and counselling have now cured her addiction. "I can say every day that I won't use it again," she says.

 

Western Sydney Area Health Drug & Alcohol Services developed the program in collaboration with the Salvation Army's Youthlink, and the free service began in November 2003. All patients entering the program used cannabis daily and were considered to be clinically dependent. The success rate has been tremendous with 88% of patients either stopping or significantly reducing their cannabis intake.

 

On the back of such positive results the state government will establish a further three clinics in NSW — at Orange in the central west, Sutherland in Sydney's south, and the Central Coast. Experts, however, hope that eventually every doctor and hospital around the country will have the same treatment available.

 

Case study from the clinic's files

Mr D is a 37-year-old single male, who is employed full time as a truck driver. He began smoking cannabis at age 20 and had been smoking on a regular daily basis for the past 15 years.

 

During the last 15 years Mr D had been unable to achieve any period of cessation, despite making made multiple attempts to stop smoking cannabis. He attributed this to the extreme restlessness and agitation that he had developed on each occasion.

 

Mr D was now extremely concerned about his inability to stop using cannabis, because his workplace had recently introduced a mandatory drug screening policy for all its employees.

 

At presentation to the Cannabis Treatment Program, Mr D was using upwards of 5 grams of cannabis each day, at a cost of approximately $500 per week. The treatment plan established for Mr D included immediate cessation of all cannabis, prescribed medications and regular clinical review sessions.

 

Mr D was able to achieve immediate cessation of cannabis, and reported that his mediation regimen successfully reduced the symptoms of agitation and anxiety that developed to a manageable level.

 

Within six weeks, Mr D had successfully ceased all medication and was able to provide his workplace with a cannabis-free urine drug screen.

 

At 10 weeks, Mr D remains cannabis free and is in contact with the treatment program periodically as required for clinical support.

 

Contact the Cannabis Treatment Service on (02) 9840 3355

 

 

Author:Stella Lauri, National Nine News

Date:Sat Jun 4 2005

Source:ninemsn Pty Ltd

Copyright: © National Nine News 2005

 

[quizywig]

A combination of medication and counselling have now cured her addiction

the treatment plan established for Mr D included immediate cessation of all cannabis, prescribed medications and regular clinical review sessions.

I notice the reference to prescribed medications coming up a few times,

Within six weeks, Mr D had successfully ceased all medication and was able to provide his workplace with a cannabis-free urine drug screen.

Yes but what other drugs were in his system instead? what were the effects of these drugs?

well at least the drug companies will get there money instead of the drug dealers??

that sounded very weired after i wrote it

[Tom]

well at least the drug companies will get there money instead of the drug dealers??

Is there all that much difference between the two?

 

[WantDaChronic]

well at least the drug companies will get there money instead of the drug dealers??

Is there all that much difference between the two?

 

one gets federal grants to make potent, addictive drugs and has them become legal...

 

the other gets federal time if caught

 

sure they are freeing people of their cannabis addiction but in reality all they are doing is taking one drug away and replacing it with another....although they did say my d got off all meds, without a doubt he has found himself a new addiction...everyone has them, its a part of life and if your ashamed of your addiction, find a new one...personally i find smoking cones every day very pleasing, relaxing and a great way to get closer to people, IMO nothing to be ashamed of

[F420]

I would much rather take the Mj than the other drugs.

IF ya smoke too much weed ya chuck up and the next day you ok again.

 

if you take too much pres drugs you can end up very dead.

I think i know which option i would rather.

 

Not to mention that people have been using cannabis since caveman times.

But all of these legal prescriptions etc that are legal are fairly new.

, people just dont know what these doctors drugs are really doing to your body, especially over say 50 years.

 

nope Im sticking to something medical that helps and wont harm me.(MJ).

 

[Matanuska Thunder]

Withdrawal from cannabis... can be "really very difficult — they get angry, irritated, aggressive, so they often just don't stop".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Exactly what happens when I try to quit using caffeine... Wonder when they will be opening a caffeine Treatment Clinic in my area....more importantly will I get some purty little pills too?

[Spurious]

Purdier than the caffiene pills ?

 

http://www.paylesschemists.com.au/images/products/57376.jpg

[devus]

I agree to an extent.

 

I do things and say things usually which i wouldnt after not using cannabis for 2-3days, not to a stupid level just i do get aggressive and dont feel like doing anything. I just feel somewhat unmovivated to do work/tafe.

 

Motivation levels are the problem that effects me the most, you dont notice this until about a few days without it, you feel so much happier, socialable and more energetic.

 

You seriously dont even think about it for a few days until u realise, anybody who uses cannabis regularally and quits for a few days would know what im talking about.

 

Cannabis is somehow bad if u use it to the extent of it dominates your life but with any drug addictive or not it can still dominate your life and change the way it goes.

 

Im sticking to only smoking on weekends due to motivation levels been fucked for work and tafe.

 

Sure cannabis is fun but i say dont fuck ur life over it. anybody with 1/2 a brain will know this.

 

On the other hand i know people who smoke everyday and feel fine and energetic as without it, its strange guess it effects every1 differently.

[F420]

Alot of the time a good sativa actually gives me energy, The mrs loves it cause I end up doing all her house work for her .

 

I prefer indicas for med reasons so it doesnt happen often.

[WantDaChronic]

i agree with what devus said, it does make people very unmotivated and turns them into bums...but thats only if they are smoking couch lock indicas that induce the munchies

 

i have found that when people smoke really good bush, the high gives them energy and they want to go out and enjoy life, not just sit around eating pizza and chocolate

 

its a matter of whats available for most people but those who can grow their own have a choice in the matter and can either grow indicas and be lazy for a day or they can smoke sativa dom pot and feel motivated and stoned...

 

if i had to choose between couch lock and an up, all in the high from a sativa, i'd pick the sativa any day....sadly all i can get here is hydro, not very good, just makes u lazy