Pubdate: Sat, 23 Oct 2004
Source: Fiji Times (Fiji)
Copyright: 2004 Fiji Times Limited
Contact:  http://www.fijitimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3445
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

ADDICTS TOP RELAPSE LIST

EIGHTY per cent of patients re-admitted at Saint Giles Hospital have 
marijuana-related problems, hospital medical superintendent Doctor Shish 
Narayan says.

He said of this 80 per cent, 70 per cent admitted taking marijuana again 
after undergoing a six-week rehabilitation programme at the hospital.

"Eighty per cent of Fijian males needing treatment suffer from 
marijuana-related problems. But such patients include male Indians and some 
females."

Dr Narayan said most patients taken there by their parents admitted to 
smoking marijuana since Class Seven.

He said there was a dangerous rise in the trend of young children smoking 
marijuana.

Dr Narayan said there were factors leading to treated marijuana patients 
relapsing after being discharged.

"The patient will either have been taking his medication and smoking 
marijuana or they do not want to take their medication and prefer to smoke 
the drug," he said.

He said there was a need for the parents, communities, churches and the 
Government to work together to fully rehabilitate these patients. Better 
rehabilitation programmes could solve the problem.

He said most of these patients smoked marijuana when depressed, when under 
pressure from peers or when they had nothing to do and found it a hobby.

Dr Narayan said parents should try and do away with the traditional taboo 
of not talking to their children about the effects and damage marijuana has 
on their children's lives.

Citing an example, there had been cases when parents brought in their 
children because they had become abusive towards their parents and teachers.
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