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Cannabis everything you want to know. Mark Campbell Drug & Alcohol Counsellor NUI Galway 28 th August 2008. Cannabis – topics to be covered. What it is Effects Dependence The Law Medical uses Prevalence Details of services. Hash (resin), Herbal, Weed (skunk), Oil (THC)
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Cannabiseverything you want to know Mark Campbell Drug & Alcohol Counsellor NUI Galway 28th August 2008
Cannabis – topics to be covered • What it is • Effects • Dependence • The Law • Medical uses • Prevalence • Details of services
Hash (resin), Herbal, Weed (skunk), Oil (THC) • Smoked (joint), cooked and eaten (hash brownies) • Depressant with hallucinogenic properties
Cannabis EffectsMild euphoria, relaxation, talkative, long winded giggly, munchies, time slower
Faces of CannabisEffects begin within few minutes, peak 30 mins last 2 hours 25-30% remains in body after week
Physical Effects • Heart rate decreases • Lower blood pressure • Depressed respiration • Impaired motor co-ordination
Cannabis – (desired Effects) • Feeling of warmth • Drowsiness & contentment • Disinhibited - reduction in anxiety • Sociability – increased closeness and camaradie • Thoughts – more imaginative and creative
Cannabis – Undesired Effects • Poor concentration, short term memory affected • Apathy, demotivation • Legal consequences • Hallucinations, paranoia • Acute psychosis (lasting few hours – 7 days), induce mental illness in those who are vulnerable
Cannabis (undesired effects cont’d) • Lung damage, wheezing, sputum prodn • Male fertility (no and mobility of sperm) • Effects on female fertility not known • Dependence; abstinence resulting in restlessness, agitation, insomnia, lack of appetite
Dependency/Addiction • Physical dependence – often measured by the physical disturbance created by the absence of the drug • Psychological dependence – overriding compulsion to obtain and retain the drug whatever the consequences
Symptoms of Dependence • Using more, or for longer than you intended • A constant desire to use, or trying to give up and failing • Spending a lot of time trying to get supplies, using and recovering • Spending less time on important activities or giving them up altogether • Needing more of the drug to get the same effect • Unpleasant symptoms when you stop
Death by Cannabisa 2 kilo block dropped on your head from the 25thfloor of a high rise building
The Law • Possession of cannabis a criminal offence. • A person can be convicted for possession of cannabis and given a maximum fine of €635 for a first offence and for a 3rd or subsequent offence an unrestricted fine and/or 3 years prison sentence. • The penalties for supplying cannabisa re potentially much harsher than for mere possession, higher fines and longer prison sentences. • The Gardai have the power to stop, search and detain if they have reason to suspect a person of being in possession of an illegal drug. • It is not illegal to have cannabis in your bloodstream, though it is an offence to drive under the influence of cannabis. • It is not illegal to possess cannabis seeds but it is illegal to grow a cannabis plant.
Cannabis Medical uses? • Synthetic compounds incl nabilone used • Relieve nausea from anti-cancer meds • Reduce spasticity (multiple sclerosis) • Anticonvulsant • Lower eye pressure in glaucoma • Psychoactive and cardio effects generally limit therapeutic usefulness (raise bp which can subseq suddenly drop)
Prevalence of Drug Use • DRUGS (CLAN survey - 2002) % last 12 mths % last 30 days Cannabis 37.3 (m=49, f=25) 20 (m=30, f=10) Ecstasy 8 Cocaine 5.8 • 16% of students had used cannabis ten times or more in the past 12 months (22% males, 11% females) • 6% of students had used cannabis more than ten times in the last 30 days (9% males, 3% females)
Where to go for help? NUI Galway offer a free and confidential counselling service to all students and have a specific drug & alcohol counsellor • Contact: Student Counselling Service, 5 Distillery Road, NUI Galway. Office Hours: Mon – Fri between 9.15am and 1pm and 2.15pm and 4.15pm. www.nuigalway.ie/counsellors • Cannabis website: www.nuigalway.ie/checkoutcannabis • Appointments 091-492484 or email: counselling@nuigalway.ie • Drop in any time Mon – Fri between 2.15-4.15pm to see a counsellor • Counsellors : Bea Gavin, Emer Casey, Geraldine Connolly, Eamonn O’ Dochartaigh • Drug & Alcohol Counsellor: Mark Campbell
Where to go for help? Drugs Counselling Service: • Galway 091-561 299 • Mayo North 096-60060 • Mayo South 094-9020430 • Roscommon 071-9664900 Cocaine Clinic 091-561 299 • Drugs Helpline: 1800 459 459 • Alcoholics Anonymous: 091-567807 • Narcotics Anonymous: 01 6728000 • Samaritans 1850 609 090 Text Help to 51900 Live help online www.drugs.ie