FORUM TOLD MORE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES NEEDED TO HELP HEAVY CANNABIS USERS

More public health services should be made available to help a small
minority of cannabis users who were using the drug heavily, Associate Prof
Richie Poulton urged last night.

Prof Poulton, who is director of the University of Otago's Dunedin
multidisciplinary health and development research unit, was one of several
speakers who addressed a Dunedin public forum on drugs.

About 60 people attended the 7pm gathering, which explored the impact of
drugs on individuals and society.

The forum, the latest in an annual church series, was chaired by Rev David
Coster, of the Coastal Unity Presbyterian Church, and held at the Caversham
Presbyterian Church hall.

Prof Poulton said smoking any substance ultimately harmed the lungs, and
that smokers of high levels of cannabis unsurprisingly experienced adverse
effects on lung function.

The findings of extensive research undertaken by the multidisciplinary
research unit supported the "harm minimisation" approach adopted by the
Government over cannabis.

More research was needed before any change to the legal status of the drug
was made, he said.

Detective Kevin Anderson, head of the Dunedin police drug squad, said the
abuse of serious drugs was "not glamorous at all".

Prescription drugs, including morphine sulphate and ritalin, were being
abused in Dunedin and elsewhere.

In many parts of the country, gangs were heavily involved in
methamphetamine distribution, and were making big illegal profits, he said.

Dr Stephanie du Fresne, medical director of the Ashburn Clinic, said the
costs of serious drug abuse to individuals, families and society were high,
including an increased risk of violence in some circumstances.

Clare Aitken, the programme director of Moana House, said methadone had
been subject to some abuse but the overall methadone programme had proven
its effectiveness in helping combat some serious drug problems.

In assessing such programmes, a holistic approach needed to be taken,
without simply focusing only on abuses, she said.