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Cannabis: Reducing Harm

Cannabis: Reducing Harm. Paul Jacob, substance misuse worker, Brighton and Hove Youth Offending Team. Smoking amongst young people. Smoking tobacco is declining amongst young people 6% 11-15 smoke at least once a week 22% 16-19 years olds smoke at least once a week

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Cannabis: Reducing Harm

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  1. Cannabis: Reducing Harm Paul Jacob, substance misuse worker, Brighton and Hove Youth Offending Team

  2. Smoking amongst young people • Smoking tobacco is declining amongst young people • 6% 11-15 smoke at least once a week • 22% 16-19 years olds smoke at least once a week • 30% 20-24 year olds smoke at least once a week • Girls are more likely to smoke tobacco than boys

  3. Cannabis use amongst young people • Cannabis is by far the most commonly used illegal drug amongst young people • Use peaks between ages 16-24 • 10% boys and 9% girls aged 11 – 15 used it in the last year • 25% young men and 15% young women aged 16 - 24 used it in the last year • Boys are more likely to smoke cannabis than girls (Dept of Health 2009 Focal Point: UK Drug Situation)

  4. Substance use amongst young people who offend • Cannabis use (86%) exceeds tobacco use (85%) • 64% say cannabis is their ‘favourite’ drug • Substance use more likely to occur at an earlier age • Cannabis use more frequently precedes or occurs alongside initial tobacco use • Use is more likely to be more frequent and intense • Almost all always smoke skunk, some occasionally smoke resin • Almost all smoke in joints with tobacco, some also smoke a cannabis and tobacco mix in a bong (Hammersley, R. et al (2003) Substance Use by Young Offenders: The Impact of The Normalisation of Drug Use in the 21st Century, London: Home Office)

  5. Cannabis and Nicotine – Hypotheses and Observations • Nicotine addiction may exacerbate cannabis dependency • Tobacco use may increase the frequency and intensity of cannabis use • Early tobacco use seems to increase likelihood of later substance misuse • Cannabis may relieve nicotine withdrawal symptoms and vice versa • Nicotine replacement therapy and stopping smoking appear to support cannabis reduction or cessation

  6. Harm Reduction Interventions • Separate tobacco and cannabis use • Switch from joint to blunt, bong, pipe, vaporiser or oral • Alternate ingestion method • Reduce impact on sleep • Tracing Triggers • Switching from skunk tostandard weed or cannabis resin

  7. Harm Reduction Interventions • Identify and work towards ‘optimum minimum dose’ • NRT reduces cravings for cannabis and frequency of use • Scaling each smoke • Increase gaps between smokes • Use less cannabis in each smoke • Take regular breaks – to avoid ‘tolerance’

  8. ru-ok? ru-ok? Young Persons Substance Misuse Service Ovest House 58 West Street Brighton BN1 2RA 01273 293966 ru-ok@brighton-hove.gov.uk

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