CANNABIS DESTROYED MY SON. IT IS JUST AS BAD A DRUG AS
HEROIN

A CANNABIS smoker killed himself after years of drug abuse turned him
into a paranoid schizophrenic.

Paul Fisher smoked the drug for 10 years before he tragically took his
own life as his mental state worsened.

Now his distraught mother is calling for a change in drug laws in
order to prevent more people falling victim to cannabis.

Mr Fisher, 34, was first diagnosed as a schizophrenic in October 2003
after he became paranoid.

He spent six months at the private Priory clinic at Hove before being
transferred to Riverdene adult mental health rehabilitation unit in
Coldeast Way, Sarisbury Green.

But staff - who disputed his original diagnosis and said he was
suffering from mental and behavioural problems related to substance
misuse - discharged him into the community after eight weeks.

He sought help from a consultant psychiatrist six months later after
his condition deteriorated.

Dr Anna Mylnick - who confirmed Mr Fisher was a paranoid schizophrenic
- - prescribed anti-psychotic medication as well as referring him to the
community psychosocial team in Portsmouth.

However Mr Fisher did not collect his medication and he also failed to
turn up for at least three further appointments.

An inquest into his death in Portsmouth heard that Mr Fisher had
smoked cannabis for about 10 years but had stopped taking the drug
about six months before his death.

His condition gradually deteriorated and he cut his throat at his home
at Clarendon House, Clarendon Road, Southsea, on July 4 2005.

Mr Fisher was rushed by ambulance to Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham,
where he was pronounced dead.

A post-mortem examination revealed he died from blood loss caused by
the three-and-a-half inch laceration to his neck.

Coroner David Horsley recorded a verdict that he took his own life as
a result of his illness.

Now his mum, Carol, 61, is calling for a change in the law to deter
other people from taking the drug.

Cannabis has been a class C illegal drug since 2004 and results of a
government review on whether it should be reclassified are expected
next year.

Mrs Fisher, from Abshot Road Titchfield Common, said: 'People don't
understand what cannabis can do to them. I think it is terrible that
it has been declassified.

'If Paul hadn't smoked cannabis he would be here today. My Paul was
kind, considerate and well mannered. He wouldn't hurt a fly. He helped
everybody else but he just couldn't help himself.

'When he had been taking drugs he changed. He was argumentative and
withdrawn. He would lock himself away in a room all day and he
wouldn't consider anybody else. He changed completely.

'People need to know this drug destroys lives - it destroyed my son
and the lives of people around him.