Don’t be a dope
Shrinks not on a high over dagga ruling; warn on addiction
FOLLOWING the Constitutional Court’s legalisation of the private use of cannabis this week, the SA Society of Psychiatrists (Sasop) has noted its concern about public perception on cannabis.
In a statement yesterday, the society warned that medical research showed that one in six teenagers who used the weed would become addicted.
“Research has shown that 9% of individuals who experiment with cannabis will become addicted to it. This number increases to one in six when use starts during adolescence. In response to the recent legalisation of cannabis for personal use, Sasop notes with concern a growing public perception of cannabis as a ‘harmless’ plant, and that few measures have been instituted to address this,” the society said.
Dr Abdul Kader Domingo, member of the Sasop special group on addictions, warned that the drug can affect youth development.
“Human brain development and maturation is a process that is guided by the body’s endogenous cannabinoid system and occurs until the early twenties. Exposure to phyto-cannabinoids (cannabinoids obtained from the cannabis plant) during this vulnerable period may disrupt the process of brain maturation and affect aspects of memory, attention, processing speed and overall intelligence.”
The doctor referred to the SA Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use report that said during the second half of 2016, dagga was the most common primary substance of abuse for persons younger than 20 presenting to treatment facilities in all areas across South Africa, except for the Free State, Northern Cape and North West.
“A review article by the World Health Organisation in 2016 concluded that current evidence points to a modest contributory causal role for cannabis in schizophrenia and that a consistent dose-response relationship exists between cannabis use in adolescence and the risk of developing psychotic symptoms or schizophrenia,” the statement continued.
“We agree with the… Central Drug Authority of SA that there is currently insufficient evidence to predict the long-term consequences of the legalisation of cannabis.”