A HELPING HAND FOR DEALING WITH CANNABIS ADDICTION

AUSTRALIAN researchers have developed world-first guidelines to help
people care for someone addicted to cannabis.

One in three people have used marijuana and about one in six are
addicted, but until now carers worldwide have been given conflicting
advice on how to identify problem use, advise someone to seek help or
cope when a user is behaving irrationally.

Researchers from the National Cannabis Prevention and Information
Centre, in Sydney, and Orygen Youth Health, in Melbourne, collaborated
on the project, studying websites, brochures and self-help books.

They created an extensive survey for medics, carers and recovered
addicts to determine the best recommendations.

Those guidelines, which will be launched today, will be used
worldwide.

Dan Lubman, an associate professor of addictions at Orygen Youth
Health, said yesterday many people were reluctant to seek help for
drug problems because of the associated stigma.

"And many have been given all sorts of advice, some of it conflicting,
which has confused them. Some people have been told that a user has to
hit rock bottom before they can be helped, but the message from our
experts was that it is always important to offer help, keep your
expectations realistic and remain supportive," Dr Lubman said.

The 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey found that up to a
quarter of people aged over 30 were smoking cannabis weekly and one in
five were smoking it daily.

One in 11 teenagers were smoking cannabis daily and one in five were
using it weekly.

A cannabis addiction can affect the ability to make decisions, cause
relationship difficulties, legal problems, accidents, depression,
anxiety and respiratory problems. In its most severe form, it can
result in violence, psychosis and suicidal thoughts.

"The quicker people get help, the better," Dr Lubman said.