Transcript Cannabis everything you want to know followed by Q

Cannabis
everything you want to know
Mark Campbell
Drug & Alcohol Counsellor
NUI Galway
28th August 2008
Cannabis –
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topics to be covered
What it is
Effects
Dependence
The Law
Medical uses
Prevalence
Details of services
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Hash (resin), Herbal, Weed (skunk),
Oil (THC)
Smoked (joint), cooked and eaten
(hash brownies)
Depressant with hallucinogenic
properties
Cannabis Resin (Hash)
High Strength Cannabis (Weed/Skunk)
Herbal Cannabis
Cannabis/Hemp Seeds
Cannabis Effects
Mild euphoria, relaxation, talkative, long winded
giggly, munchies, time slower
Faces of Cannabis
Effects begin within few minutes, peak 30 mins last 2 hours
25-30% remains in body after week
Physical Effects
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Heart rate decreases
Lower blood pressure
Depressed respiration
Impaired motor
co-ordination
Cannabis –
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(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)
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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
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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
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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
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Needing more of the drug to get the same effect
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Unpleasant symptoms when you stop
Death by
Cannabis
a 2 kilo block dropped on
your head from the
25thfloor of a high rise
building
The Law
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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.
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The penalties for supplying cannabisa re potentially much harsher than for mere
possession, higher fines and longer prison sentences.
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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.
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It is not illegal to have cannabis in your bloodstream, though it is an offence to
drive under the influence of cannabis.
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It is not illegal to possess cannabis seeds but it is illegal to grow a cannabis
plant.
Cannabis Medical uses?
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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
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DRUGS (CLAN survey - 2002)
Cannabis
Ecstasy
Cocaine
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% last 12 mths
% last 30 days
37.3 (m=49, f=25)
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5.8
20 (m=30, f=10)
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
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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
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Cannabis website: www.nuigalway.ie/checkoutcannabis
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Appointments 091-492484 or email: [email protected]
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Drop in any time Mon – Fri between 2.15-4.15pm to see a counsellor
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Counsellors : Bea Gavin, Emer Casey, Geraldine Connolly, Eamonn O’
Dochartaigh
Drug & Alcohol Counsellor: Mark Campbell
Where to go for help?
Drugs Counselling Service:
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Galway 091-561 299
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Mayo North 096-60060
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Mayo South 094-9020430
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Roscommon 071-9664900
Cocaine Clinic 091-561 299
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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