Pubdate: Fri, 30 Jan 2009
Source: Lismore Northern Star (Australia)
Copyright: APN News & Media Ltd 2009
Contact:  http://www.northernstar.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4156
Author: Kate O'Neill
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

CANNABIS ADDICTIONS GOING UP IN SMOKE

MORE people on the Northern Rivers are seeking help for  cannabis addiction.

The North Coast Area Health Service said it treated 831  people in 
2008 - up 21 per cent from the previous year.

Area health service drug and alcohol director John  Leary attributed 
the rise to the introduction of new  'cannabis clinics' across the region.

Mostly provided in community health centres, the  clinics remove the 
stigma associated with attending a  dedicated drug and alcohol centre.

Users seeking help call a 1300 number and are then  provided with an 
appointment at their nearest centre.

The clinics were set up last year to deal with  increasing numbers of 
local people experiencing health  and lifestyle problems as a result 
of using cannabis.

Mr Leary said the Area Health Service had always  provided cannabis 
treatment, but the establishment of  the clinics had encouraged more 
people to seek help.

He said people had also started to acknowledge that  cannabis use 
could be habit-forming and dangerous, with  physical and mental effects.

"People are increasingly discovering that long-term  cannabis use is 
not good for you. It is not a benign  drug," he said.

Mr Leary said most people attending the clinics wanted  to stop 
completely, while others say they would like to  cut down their use.

Counsellors tailor treatment to each individual and  provide a form 
of treatment called cognitive behaviour  therapy, which is based 
around helping people  understand, manage and change their thoughts 
and  actions.

Studies from trial clinics in Sydney and central  western NSW have 
shown that 50 per cent of people  either stopped using or reduced 
their use of cannabis  after treatment.

Mr Leary said drugs used for treating addictions - like  methadone 
for heroine - were not currently available to  marijuana users, but 
this might change soon.

"There are no drugs available that can satisfactorily  treat cannabis 
users, but there is hope the  pharmaceutical industry will come up 
with something,"  he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom