James Cox
In a new report, the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland has warned that cannabis represents the “gravest threat to the mental health of young people in Ireland today”.
Hospital admissions of young people with a cannabis-related diagnosis have quadrupled over a 12-year period.
The body is warning one in three young people become addicted if they use it weekly, or more often.
The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland said higher-potency cannabis and a “widespread conception” among the public that it is generally harmless has had “devastating effects”.
Cannabis dependence
The report found 45,000 15-34 year olds in Ireland now meet the criteria for cannabis dependence.
The report called on Government to conduct an urgen review of cannabis use and its harm, warning that psychiatric services could be “overrun” due to a surge in young people needing treatment linked to use of the drug.
According to the college, there were 877 admissions in 2019 to medical hospitals in Ireland with a cannabis-related diagnosis.
This is four times higher than the figure for 2005.
“As many as one in three young people who use cannabis weekly or more often will likely become addicted,” said Dr Gerry McCarney, a consultant child and adolescent addiction psychiatrist.
“When you consider how potent the drug has become in recent years, it is obvious we are facing a perfect storm which has the potential to overrun our psychiatric services.”
The average age for…
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James Cox
In a new report, the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland has warned that cannabis represents the “gravest threat to the mental health of young people in Ireland today”.
Hospital admissions of young people with a cannabis-related diagnosis have quadrupled over a 12-year period.
The body is warning one in three young people become addicted if they use it weekly, or more often.
The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland said higher-potency cannabis and a “widespread conception” among the public that it is generally harmless has had “devastating effects”.
Cannabis dependence
The report found 45,000 15-34 year olds in Ireland now meet the criteria for cannabis dependence.
The report called on Government to conduct an urgen review of cannabis use and its harm, warning that psychiatric services could be “overrun” due to a surge in young people needing treatment linked to use of the drug.
According to the college, there were 877 admissions in 2019 to medical hospitals in Ireland with a cannabis-related diagnosis.
This is four times higher than the figure for 2005.
“As many as one in three young people who use cannabis weekly or more often will likely become addicted,” said Dr Gerry McCarney, a consultant child and adolescent addiction psychiatrist.
“When you consider how potent the drug has become in recent years, it is obvious we are facing a perfect storm which has the potential to overrun our psychiatric services.”
The average age for…