Health - Health fears as 300,000 young people use cannabis

[Abrad]

www.unison.ie
Major report shows most users are aged between 16 and 25

A NEW Government report shows 300,000 young people are regularly using cannabis.

As many as 5,000 16-year-olds admit to using the drug. That is twice the EU average.

Most of those using the drug are aged between 16 and 25, with 28,000 admitting they are cannabis-dependent.

The startling findings are outlined in a major Oireachtas report.

It is being published tomorrow by the Oireachtas Arts, Sports, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs committee.

Fianna Fail backbencher Cecilia Keaveney, who chairs the committee, said last night most of those taking the drug are in the teens-to-25-age group.

And many of those taking cannabis are showing schizophrenic tendencies when initially assessed medically.

Ms Keaveney said the report will debunk the myth that cannabis is "both safe and harmless" as the drug contains four times as much tar as cigarettes.

She said: "It contains some powerful case histories which bear this out. The dangers to our young people, to our young mothers and their offspring are considerable."

Ms Keaveney said young people using it are at an age when they are vulnerable to mental health difficulties. And, she claimed, these are compounded by cannabis use.

"You only have to look at the suicide statistics to bear this out."

The report recommends the establishment of a national strategy to deal with cannabis use.

There is also a recommendation supporting further research to examine the longterm cognitive effects associated with heavy cannabis use.

Ms Keaveney revealed the report also "reminds us that, at an estimated value of more than €375m, it is the largest single component of the illicit drugs trade".

The committee will also publish a second report which highlights the need for a national policy on the abuse of alcohol.

Our per capita consumption has risen by 41pc between 1989 and 1999. Latest EU statistics show our annual consumption is 15 litres of pure alcohol.

"No wonder we have problems of binge drinking, teenage alcoholics and drink related homicide," Ms Keaveney.

While the major drugs report will highlight the extent of substance abuse on a national level, concern at a more local level has prompted an advice blitz on two Dublin suburbs.

Every household in Finglas and Cabra is to receive a booklet outlining the effects of cocaine, writes Paul Melia.

About 15,000 households will get the booklet called 'Cocaine - What You need to know'.

Yesterday Finglas/Cabra drugs task force coordinator John Bennett said a booklet and poster campaign was being undertaken.

Gardai had carried out raids on pubs in the area and a number of arrests have been made for possession of cocaine for personal use.

"This is an area that has had to deal with the consequences of a heroin problem and the new drug on the block is cocaine," he said.

"Gardai raided a number of pubs in the area and a lot of people were found in possession of cocaine for their own use."

He added: "There are no alternative drug therapies for cocaine use. Although the drug problem isn't as pronounced as it was in the 1990s, I think people have to realise that we have a problem and that unfortunately it's part of modern life."

A poster campaign in all pubs in the area is also being undertaken.

This has has a mirror embossed on the poster and a message: "Are you looking at someone with a cocaine problem?" printed underneath.

The poster includes contact details for local garda stations and the Finglas Addiction Support Team.

Unveiling the booklet yesterday, junior Noel Ahern said €125m has been allocated to drugs projects.

The Finglas/Cabra Drugs Task Force got more than €8m to date, with €800,000 allocated for this year.

Gene McKenna

[Mr. Giraffe]

Depressing stuff. This was front page news, and it's got discussion going in other parts of the media, with the usual results - calls for a major crackdown on cannabis, drug testing, etc etc.

This new 'reefer madness' is really taking legs, and has been particularly prevalent in Ireland, where we have very few opposing voices, and the debate is charactarised by breath-taking ignorance.

[Abrad]

And many of those taking cannabis are showing schizophrenic tendencies when initially assessed medically.

How many? I assume that those who were presenting some kind of symptoms anyway which is why they would have been assessed in first place. Without figures to back it up this statement is meaningless.

"You only have to look at the suicide statistics to bear this out."

Linking cannabis to suicide now? This whole article just stinks of propaganda.

[Lunar Loops]

Yes, you beat me to it there abrad on commenting on your own article. I too was going to highlight those particular points. The problem is, as Mr Giraffe so rightly points out, a lot of people in this country will swallow that sort of bullshit and the propoganda wagon is gaininng speed....I can almost hear the mad cackle of the deranged Eurad Queen as she preens her moralist feathers in delight.

Reputation Comments on this post:

[Abrad]

I can almost hear the mad cackle of the deranged Eurad Queen as she preens her moralist feathers in delight.

Oh god no...
The Joe Duffy Show starts shortly, what are the odds she'll be on it? She's bound to get some media exposure over this.

[Lunar Loops]

Yes, Matt Cooper tonight may be another good bet...you can guarantee that she will be trying to get airtime and column inches.

[Nature Boy]

Urgh! Another gut-wrenching piece of fabricated bullshit news. Cannabis is fucking up people's health in Ireland though. It's actually true. But I'm not talking about cannabis as we know it, I'm talking about the dreaded soapbar. Due to legal restrictions, ignorance and general stingeyness, most so-called Irish cannabis smokers smoke this vile peat briquette-like substance almost exclusively. I'm certain that soap fucks up people's lungs and probably leads to all kinds of bizarre mental problems due to the contaminants contained within it. Unfortunately the dumbasses up in the Dáil probably think all cannabis is the same.

[Abrad]

Indeed. Lots of smokers over here do not even know that soapbar isn't real hash. He was actually talking to somebody over the weekend who says they prefer "the proper Irish hash" as they called it over "that grass shite".

[Nature Boy]

Hahaha!

SWIM's has encountered similar disillusioned idiots. Shamefully enough SWIM once thought that soapbar was normal hash too when he was younger. He's also noticed that a lot of knackers who don't know the first thing about drugs can't handle the potency of skunk and have to resort to smoking the soap ("filth" as SWIM likes to call it) as their poison of choice. Sadly enough these people represent nearly the majority of Irish so-called cannabis smokers. People with mental problems, criminal records and absolutely no virtue. With a cannabis culture like that in place no wonder the government is going the route they're going. Bloody Gilligan and his international ring of filth importation. Only in Ireland could you get away with selling fake hash to people.

[Mr. Giraffe]

Originally Posted by Nature Boy

Only in Ireland could you get away with selling fake hash to people.

I'm given to understand Britain and France suffer with the same affliction.

I've also encountered the attitude others have come across - a lot of young people say they prefer the taste of soap to grass. Bizarre. I know people who've wandered around Amsterdam wondering why they can't source 'normal hash'. It's like preferring the taste of white spirits to whiskey.

Grainne Kenny has already been riding this one, as Shroomonger correctly predicts. She's called for the head of Noel Ahern, the drugs minister, because these figures prove that he has failed. Quite how she expects him to stop people smoking is not explained, but we know she quite likes the Philippine model, so perhaps some public flogging and a few dozen life sentences might knock the stuffing out of these reckless young people and help to protect their health

Incidentally, nobody has commented on the fact that, with 300,000 tokers, it would be pyschically impossible to put all of us in prison. Isn't this report really just an illustration of what an utter, utter failure our current drugs policy really is?

But but but. Nobody's listening. Might as well retreat to the dark cupboard and swallow some cyanide, I'm sick of living on an island of drunken morons.

Goodbye cruel world

Reputation Comments on this post:

	Decent social analysis. Funny too.
	Good post

[Nature Boy]

Originally Posted by Mr. Giraffe

I'm given to understand Britain and France suffer with the same affliction.

True but not to Ireland's extent. Soapbar only covers about 50% of the British market now which is a lot less than Ireland's rate. I imagine even less people use it in France. With Britain's booming homegrow culture and price drops coupled with France's proximity and easy access to the very best Dutch export, there's less and less reason they should turn to the icky filth. Unfortunately the tortured souls of our windy barren island aren't as quick to catch on.

[Alicia]

I dont have to say much as alot of you have already beaten swia too it. utter bullshit no evidence to back up any claims, another scare tactic.

-"No wonder we have problems of binge drinking, teenage alcoholics and drink related homicide," Ms Keaveney-

What the fuck has that got to do with anything, swia thought this was a dig at weed are they saying that people who smoke weed binge drink. Once again another method they'll try and push on people and find that it 'll fail.. lol got to laugh really.

[Nature Boy]

That's another trait of soapbar. It's easy to smoke while drinking because it contains so little THC. It's basically like a very foul tasting cigarette.

[Abrad]

Things do appear to be changing, albeit slowly. Only 3-4 years ago it was nearly unheard of to find skunk or polm.

[Nature Boy]

That is true. Also the introduction of new headshops allows people to buy better equipment and paraphernalia for their cannabis-smoking needs. Still though, it's the attitude of the government that worries me. Just when something progressive looks like happening, something ridiculous comes along that makes you think things are going backwards e.g. mushroom ban.

[Tokyo-expat]

Pure and utter propaganda.. but then again I am preaching to the choir...
That is one of the reasons I am firmly in the Libertarian camp.. I may not agree on everything but they are better than the 2 sided coin that is the powers that be... and they are for the complete and total decriminalization of all substances.. folks should be allowed to make their own choices about their bodies.
Why is it if I want to smoke 3 cartons of unfiltered cigarettes a day and die of cancer at 35 that is fine with the govt. Yet... if swim wants to take some X and have some crazy sex with swims wife.. wellllll... lets arrest his ass..
stinking hipocrites.

[Lunar Loops]

Did anyone hear the piece on 'The Last Word' last night on TodayFM (Ireland)? It allowed some light to shine forth in the dark media tunnel that had been created earlier in the day. Ian O'Doherty was on there (wrote an excellent piece in the Irish Independent..see below) along with some doctor and Cecilia (at least SWIS thinks it was her, SWIS missed the very start of the piece). Even the doctor was not so negative as SWIS was expecting and he refrained from making any damning statements or drawing the usual ridiculous conclusions. When the link to schizophrenia and other mental disorders was brought up, he even said that some studies had indicated that there may be an increase in risk to young people who smoke cannabis of up to three times the norm, but that this still only represented 3-4% of those who smoked it (thereby stating around 96% of people who smoke it have no such problems). Ian O' Doherty was very elequent in his defence too.

Anyway, here is the article (I think you have to register to gain access, but it is free http://www.unison.ie/irish_independe...issue_id=14300) :

Smoke and mirrors in the war on drugs

As the anniversary of Veronica Guerin's assassination passes, it seems that the Irish have begun to examine their conscience when it comes to drugs.
And that is why, for instance, certain journalists and commentators have been able to indulge in the kind of specious moral gymnastics which allow them to accuse anyone who has ever smoked a joint of being morally culpable in the journalist's murder.
Even last Friday in this very organ, David Quinn (a man I like and normally respect, even if we agree on very little) felt moved to say: "Ten years on from the death of Veronica Guerin we have no choice but to step up the war in drugs and fight it to the bitter end."
But here's a newsflash for those who have been living in a cave with their head in a bucket for the last few years - we have already lost the 'war' on drugs, and it's about time we started to look for an honourable peace.
Aside from the fact that the so-called 'war on drugs' is actually the State waging war on its own citizens, and criminalising the innocent, it is unwinnable, morally reprehensible and socially invasive policy with no merit and no hope of success.
Of course, the establishment, and particularly law enforcement, doesn't want you to know that, because every system needs an enemy to make us all scared - and when people are scared, they are compliant and docile and willing to accept measures which otherwise they would reject.
That is why, for instance, you seldom, if ever, read or hear about the real reason people take drugs. And it's a simple reason, really. People take drugs because they enjoy them.
You can have all the mealy-mouthed, middle-class puritans lecturing the rest of us about social exclusion, chemical crutches and all the other clichés.
But the simple, if seldom reported, fact is that the overwhelmingly vast majority of people who use illegal substances use them for recreational pleasure and not as some sort of emotional comfort blanket.
And the overwhelming majority of people who use illegal substances take cannabis, which despite the hysterical pronouncements of the prohibitionists and the people who work in the addiction industry, is a relatively benign substance.
For every hysterical scare story issued by the likes of Eurad's Grainne Kenny (the Hyacinth Bucket of the prohibitionists) the simple fact is that the vast majority of drug users simply go about their day without harming either themselves or anyone else.
According to the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, 10% of children aged 16 have experimented with cannabis at some point and nearly 20% of the adult population under 55 have tried it. Are we really going to say that one in five Irish citizens are criminals?
But while people like myself - I'm a dope smoker and unashamed of it - will never agree either morally or ideologically with the prohibitionists, even they must face one simple fact: drugs aren't going to go away.
They must also face the fact that the people most violently opposed to any moves towards regulation of the trade are the drugs gangs themselves. After all, when you have a captive market you get to name the price.
Trying to criminalise vast swathes of the population simply does not work, has never worked in the past and will never work in the future. It is not just unworkable but an obscenity. After all, I don't have the right to tell anyone else what they can put into their body and I expect the same respect back.
Of course, the more freedom you give people, the more responsibility they are expected to accept.
And for a certain class of commentator, they simply do not trust the rest of us to make the right decisions. The idea that tens of thousands of Irish people lead perfectly productive lives, holding down jobs, rearing families and not ending up in the gutter, while going home and having a spliff after their dinner at night seems to offend some people right to their very core.
And while they jump up and down making specious arguments and playing the blame game, the criminal gangs rake in tens of millions every year and bring death and destruction to our streets.
Of course, the sensible alternative would be to maturely, and without hyperbole, examine the prospect of bringing drugs into the legal, manageable arena. But even considering such a move would take a leap of faith and imagination - and courage - which seems beyond Irish politicians and the majority of people working in the media.
Legalisation, the mantra goes, would see a massive increase in people using drugs.
I hate to break it you guys - anyone who wants to get their hands on drugs in this country already can. And I have never in my entire life encountered someone who wanted to do drugs but didn't simply because they were illegal.
The next time some politician starts to tell us that people who use drugs are no different from the drug dealers who killed Guerin, ask them one simple question - does that mean it's okay to grow our own, then?
Ian O'Doherty

That's the same question SWIS has texted into numerous talk shows and tried to phone in (all to no avail) whenever some gobshite like McTool rolls out the same old lame story about 'by smoking cannabis you are supporting serious crime'. SWIS just ends up ranting at the radio....perhaps SWIS is mad after all.

[Lunar Loops]

For those who may be interested, the full oireachtas report is available from here http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/c...6/Cannabis.pdf

SWIS must warn you to be prepared to get VERY angry when you read this (either that or fall about laughing, but it is no laughing matter my friends for believe you me, this incredible piece of BS will win hearts and minds in this country). Reefer madness 2006 in an Irish Stylee. Christ in the forward Cecilia Keaveney describes cannabis as a "truly noxious weed", and even makes comparisons between the threat posed by sexual predators to young children and the threat posed by cannabis. The picture of the woman alone would be enough to strike fear into the hearts of most....pass the bible on the right hand side.

All the oldies, but goldies are here folks....read it and weep.

Reputation Comments on this post:

	Great post. Funny and informative.
	Thanks for posting that, interesting but very annoying

[Nature Boy]

Originally Posted by shroomonger

Did anyone hear the piece on 'The Last Word' last night on TodayFM (Ireland)? It allowed some light to shine forth in the dark media tunnel that had been created earlier in the day. Ian O'Doherty was on there (wrote an excellent piece in the Irish Independent..see below) along with some doctor and Cecilia (at least SWIS thinks it was her, SWIS missed the very start of the piece). Even the doctor was not so negative as SWIS was expecting and he refrained from making any damning statements or drawing the usual ridiculous conclusions. When the link to schizophrenia and other mental disorders was brought up, he even said that some studies had indicated that there may be an increase in risk to young people who smoke cannabis of up to three times the norm, but that this still only represented 3-4% of those who smoked it (thereby stating around 96% of people who smoke it have no such problems). Ian O' Doherty was very elequent in his defence too.

Anyway, here is the article (I think you have to register to gain access, but it is free http://www.unison.ie/irish_independe...issue_id=14300) :

Smoke and mirrors in the war on drugs

As the anniversary of Veronica Guerin's assassination passes, it seems that the Irish have begun to examine their conscience when it comes to drugs.
And that is why, for instance, certain journalists and commentators have been able to indulge in the kind of specious moral gymnastics which allow them to accuse anyone who has ever smoked a joint of being morally culpable in the journalist's murder.
Even last Friday in this very organ, David Quinn (a man I like and normally respect, even if we agree on very little) felt moved to say: "Ten years on from the death of Veronica Guerin we have no choice but to step up the war in drugs and fight it to the bitter end."
But here's a newsflash for those who have been living in a cave with their head in a bucket for the last few years - we have already lost the 'war' on drugs, and it's about time we started to look for an honourable peace.
Aside from the fact that the so-called 'war on drugs' is actually the State waging war on its own citizens, and criminalising the innocent, it is unwinnable, morally reprehensible and socially invasive policy with no merit and no hope of success.
Of course, the establishment, and particularly law enforcement, doesn't want you to know that, because every system needs an enemy to make us all scared - and when people are scared, they are compliant and docile and willing to accept measures which otherwise they would reject.
That is why, for instance, you seldom, if ever, read or hear about the real reason people take drugs. And it's a simple reason, really. People take drugs because they enjoy them.
You can have all the mealy-mouthed, middle-class puritans lecturing the rest of us about social exclusion, chemical crutches and all the other clichés.
But the simple, if seldom reported, fact is that the overwhelmingly vast majority of people who use illegal substances use them for recreational pleasure and not as some sort of emotional comfort blanket.
And the overwhelming majority of people who use illegal substances take cannabis, which despite the hysterical pronouncements of the prohibitionists and the people who work in the addiction industry, is a relatively benign substance.
For every hysterical scare story issued by the likes of Eurad's Grainne Kenny (the Hyacinth Bucket of the prohibitionists) the simple fact is that the vast majority of drug users simply go about their day without harming either themselves or anyone else.
According to the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, 10% of children aged 16 have experimented with cannabis at some point and nearly 20% of the adult population under 55 have tried it. Are we really going to say that one in five Irish citizens are criminals?
But while people like myself - I'm a dope smoker and unashamed of it - will never agree either morally or ideologically with the prohibitionists, even they must face one simple fact: drugs aren't going to go away.
They must also face the fact that the people most violently opposed to any moves towards regulation of the trade are the drugs gangs themselves. After all, when you have a captive market you get to name the price.
Trying to criminalise vast swathes of the population simply does not work, has never worked in the past and will never work in the future. It is not just unworkable but an obscenity. After all, I don't have the right to tell anyone else what they can put into their body and I expect the same respect back.
Of course, the more freedom you give people, the more responsibility they are expected to accept.
And for a certain class of commentator, they simply do not trust the rest of us to make the right decisions. The idea that tens of thousands of Irish people lead perfectly productive lives, holding down jobs, rearing families and not ending up in the gutter, while going home and having a spliff after their dinner at night seems to offend some people right to their very core.
And while they jump up and down making specious arguments and playing the blame game, the criminal gangs rake in tens of millions every year and bring death and destruction to our streets.
Of course, the sensible alternative would be to maturely, and without hyperbole, examine the prospect of bringing drugs into the legal, manageable arena. But even considering such a move would take a leap of faith and imagination - and courage - which seems beyond Irish politicians and the majority of people working in the media.
Legalisation, the mantra goes, would see a massive increase in people using drugs.
I hate to break it you guys - anyone who wants to get their hands on drugs in this country already can. And I have never in my entire life encountered someone who wanted to do drugs but didn't simply because they were illegal.
The next time some politician starts to tell us that people who use drugs are no different from the drug dealers who killed Guerin, ask them one simple question - does that mean it's okay to grow our own, then?
Ian O'Doherty

That's the same question SWIS has texted into numerous talk shows and tried to phone in (all to no avail) whenever some gobshite like McTool rolls out the same old lame story about 'by smoking cannabis you are supporting serious crime'. SWIS just ends up ranting at the radio....perhaps SWIS is mad after all.

Just to get back to this, SWIM flicked on FOX last night (he usually does during commercial breaks to gain a quick laugh) and The O'Reilly Factor was on. O'Reilly took a pop at Ian O'Doherty and the Irish Independent for misquoting him on something to do with the Iraq War. He labelled the Independent as a newspaper with no credibility after reading something like that before sarcastically sighing "Ah, the Irish" (O'Reilly being of Irish origin himself ironically). Wouldn't be surprised if our pot-smoking journalist buddy was out of job because of good ol' Bill. He made a mockery out of that newspaper in front of millions of viewers.

[Nature Boy]

Had SWIM not smoked some salvia earlier tonight that Oireachtas report would have made him extremely angry. O'Doherty's article was very refreshing however. It's a damn shame that most of the people who read that are probably sharpening knives right now. Reefer madness is back with a bang.

[Abrad]

Thank you for posting that, it is an interesting albeit annoying look at what the powers that be think about cannabis.

What does this even mean?

Widespread drunkenness and Ireland’s tolerant attitude to alcohol
intoxication provides cannabis users with a lot of ‘camouflage’.

Also maybe it's just me but a lot of these "case studys" sound made up.

Seán was a rather shy 14 year old who was introduced to cannabis by
some school friends. He found that smoking helped him to relax, and over
time began to rely on cannabis to help him feel part of the gang. His
parents were tolerant of cannabis use being of the view that this was a
harmless recreational habit. After passing his Junior Cert, Seán’s parents
began to notice that he had become progressively more withdrawn
culminating with his revealing a wide range of suspicions to his parents
about his classmates, teachers and strangers on the street. A referral to a
psychiatrist followed.

Seán was a rather shy 14 year old who was introduced to cannabis by
some school friends. He found that smoking helped him to relax, and over
time began to rely on cannabis to help him feel part of the gang. His
parents were tolerant of cannabis use being of the view that this was a
harmless recreational habit. After passing his Junior Cert, Seán’s parents
began to notice that he had become progressively more withdrawn
culminating with his revealing a wide range of suspicions to his parents
about his classmates, teachers and strangers on the street. A referral to a
psychiatrist followed.Everyone is getting very frustrated with the situation at home but Edward
doesn’t see any substantial problem with his drug use. He thinks that
alcohol is a much nastier substance than cannabis. He has seen the way
his parents row with one another when they are drunk. He thinks his
father is a hypocrite and stupid to be spending most of Saturday and
Sunday lying in bed recovering from a hangover.
Edward has been very close to his mother in the past and he hates the
fact that she is upset and worried about his drug use. After their
arguments, he feels very guilty. He usually then either goes to his room or
goes out to his friends. When feeling down, he likes to smoke a joint in order to "switch off".

[podge]

somethings gotta be done before reffer madness sweeps the nation.joe duffys show would be a good way to spread the truth about cannabis to the masses....but will ireland ever listen?most irish have been brainwashed against drugs by now and older irish people are VERY stuck in their ways.what can be done if people refuse to listen to common sense?

[Abrad]

Originally Posted by podge

joe duffys show would be a good way to spread the truth about cannabis to the masses....but will ireland ever listen?

That show would not be a good way to spread the truth. Do you not remember the show he did on mushrooms? He let 3 pro-mushroom callers on air and wouldn't let them get a word in while the numerous other callers spouted ignorance at them. He himself, rather than impartially moderating the discussion was clearly biased against mushrooms. Any time I have heard him discuss drugs on his show it is like this. I fear that any coverage of this topic will be similarily bad.

[podge]

Originally Posted by abrad84

That show would not be a good way to spread the truth. Do you not remember the show he did on mushrooms? He let 3 pro-mushroom callers on air and wouldn't let them get a word in while the numerous other callers spouted ignorance at them. He himself, rather than impartially moderating the discussion was clearly biased against mushrooms. Any time I have heard him discuss drugs on his show it is like this. I fear that any coverage of this topic will be similarily bad.

It may not be the ideal way of getting our cause heard but we do know that joe duffys show can influence the irish people....exibit A ......mushrooms ! if joe is flattered and correctly spoken to then im sure we would be given enough air time to do some good......optimistic i know.....but what other choices do we have?

[Nature Boy]

I gotta agree with abrad84 on this one. Joe Duffy is a menace. Sure a lot of people listen to him - namely prudes, but if he were to make a pro cannabis show (like he ever would), he'd be bombarded with complaints from stuck-up biddies. Let's face it, Ireland is an anti-drug country, close to being one of the worst in Europe.