Surge in middle aged Britons with addiction to cannabis

THE number of middle-aged Britons addicted to cannabis has more than doubled in the past decade, a study has shown.

And the rise in over-40s suffering from cannabis dependency comes as use of the drug declines, researchers from York University found.

They say the drug users started smoking weaker forms of cannabis in their teens and 20s. But since then, super-strength ‘skunk’ cannabis is widespread and is wreaking havoc among older Britons.

Researchers analysing the number of drug users seeking treatment for addiction in England found it rose from 471 in 2005/06 to 1008 in 2015/16.

Researcher Ian Hamilton said: ‘Long-term cannabis users, who are aged 40 or older, have been used to lower-potency cannabis in the past, which can now no longer be sourced. Turning to higher-potency cannabis could increase the likelihood of them developing health problems.’

He said the number of adults going to drug clinics were the ‘tip of the iceberg’ – for every one who turns up at a clinic, a further ten do not.