Pubdate: Fri, 05 Dec 2014
Source: Western Mail (UK)
Copyright: 2014 Media Wales Ltd
Contact:  http://www.walesonline.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2598
Page: 13

LUNG DISEASE ON RISE OVER UK CANNABIS HABITS, ALERT

BRITAIN is on the verge of a steep rise in young adults getting a 
severe form of lung disease due to regular cannabis and tobacco 
smoking, Welsh scientists have warned.

Lung specialists have given the warning at the winter meeting of the 
British Thoracic Society.

A study at Bangor analysed patients attending A&E with a severe and 
accelerated form of emphysema linked to their high use of cannabis and tobacco.

Some patients were in their 30s and the whole sample had smoked five 
joints a day - or more  for at least a decade.

Eight patients presenting with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary 
disease - the umbrella term for a collection of lung diseases 
including chronic bronchitis and emphysema - and aged between 35 and 
48, were studied by researchers at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor hospital, 
for two years.

In four cases the lung damage was severe enough to require long-term 
oxygen therapy and one patient is still awaiting a suitable lung transplant.

Researchers believe high cannabis and tobacco use was the major cause 
of the aggressive and advanced emphysema.

Studies worldwide have also begun to pick up on this advanced and 
severe emphysema affecting young to middle-aged people who use illicit drugs.

In Australia smoking cannabis through a "bong" device has led to the 
rise of what experts are now calling "bong lung".

Dr Damian Mckeon, a consultant in respiratory medicine at Ysbyty 
Gwynedd, and Honorary Senior Lecturer at Bangor University, said 
yesterday: "We are seeing young people on the wards with the lungs of 
80-year-olds after less than a decade of smoking cannabis and tobacco.

"Our study was in a rural region of North Wales but we believe these 
cases may represent the tip of the iceberg.

"There are communities of young people all across the country, often 
living in areas of high deprivation and unemployment, who smoke 
spliffs regularly. They are putting their health and futures in grave danger."
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