Ireland: MOST GET CANNABIS FROM FRIENDS

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MOST GET CANNABIS FROM FAMILY OR FRIENDS


EIGHT out of 10 people who use cannabis get their drugs from friends or family, new research shows.


A national survey found only 4% of cannabis users bought or were given the drug by strangers.


"This information contradicts the popular view of the dealer as someone completely unknown to the user," said Dr Des Corrigan, chairman of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD).


The NACD research shows that 78% of people who used cannabis recently were either given the drug by family or friends, bought it from a friend or shared the drug among friends.


Dr Corrigan said: "The clear message for parents is: you need to know where your children are and who their friends are. The whole concept of the 'free gaff' needs to be looked at with renewed vigour. That's where people might start their experimentation."


The report on cannabis use the third bulletin on drug use in Ireland based on a population study in 2002 and 2003 highlights the extent to which people experiment with the drug.


It found 17% of 15 to 64-years-olds have taken cannabis at some stage, but that this fell to 5% for those who used it within the last year and to 3% for use within the last month.


"It's important to highlight that most users do not progress on to regular use of cannabis," said Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, Noel Ahern.


NACD Director Mairead Lyons said the research "possibly reinforces the anecdotal view that cannabis is a drug of experimentation."


"A lot of people seem to have tried it at some point in their lives but the survey is showing that only a small proportion will take it regularly," she added.


The survey found while only 3% currently use it, 27% have used the drug regularly at some stage.


"Clearly this shows that one puff doesn't make you an addict, I'd accept that," said Mr Ahern. "But equally it shows the younger the people experiment or become regular users of cannabis, the more likely they go on to other drugs later on."