Young People and the Legalisation of Cannabis

Transcription

1 Young People and the Legalisation of Cannabis A Local Perspective Claire de Motte BSc (hons) MSc claire.demotte@ntu.ac.uk Jamie Satterthwaite jamie.satterthwaite@nottshc.nhs.uk

2 Today Add a further dimension to the debate of cannabis legalisation by considering the effect that decriminalising cannabis could have on young people. 1. Young People and Substance Use 2. Research with Nottinghamshire County Council 3. The Views of Young People 4. Concluding remarks

3 Young People and Substance Use The National Picture Within one year, young people accessing treatment services fell by 6% (Fuller, 2011). Since treatment for Class A drugs has dropped by two-thirds (Rassool, 2009). Cannabis is the most commonly used drug (Crome, 2001; 2004). Presentations of young people to Accident and Emergency departments related to alcohol are a concern (Sawyer, 2012). The Local Picture No existing local data set to indicate prevalence. Within the last year, 3000 young people have used drugs. Class A drugs: 5%. 45% of year olds had drunk alcohol at least once. 9% of year olds had used cannabis. (Nottinghamshire County Council, 2012) 28 June

4 Research with Notts CC Two (plus 1) services: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Targeted Support and Youth Justice Services (Face It) Nottinghamshire Youth Group Research Design: Ethos of Participatory Action Research (PAR) Service Users Mixed Methodology: National Treatment Agency For Substance Misuse (NTDMS) data Case Files Interviews with service users and young people not in-service Quarterly reports and a final Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) Recommendations made to commissioners based on the research findings 28 June

5 Sample Population year olds (cases as young as 10 years old) Male (91%) White British (92%) Diagnosis of ADHD (22%) Low socioeconomic status Main referral route: Youth Offending Service (YOS) (47%) Secondary referral route: Educational (24%) Substances: Cannabis (73%) Alcohol (58%) MCAT (18%) 5

6 Reasons for Cannabis Use Identity I was 14 when first used weed with mates just shared a joint, everyone was doing it so I felt a bit left out and I thought well I don t drink. [Young Person, 17 years old] I ve had weed plenty of times. I wouldn t go and buy a 10 bag on my own. It s like when people have got it; they ll say do you wanna do it and everyone chips in. [Young Person, 15 years old] Method of Enablement (Socially; Educationally) It gives me a buzz, some people say it s like an antidepressant but I think it helps me to socialise because I m not good at making friends, it can take me a while to get in with a group of mates but once I ve had a spliff I m fine with people. [Young Person, 14 years old] 6

7 Self-Medicating I get nervous in big crowds. I get nervous and paranoid. I actually smoke quite a bit more when I m nervous and paranoid. [Service User, 16 years old] Boredom It s just something to do when I m bored. I got stoned out my head last week and yesterday. I did it out of boredom, it was something to do. If I m bored and got nothing to do I ll just do it. It gives me an adrenaline rush, a bit of a buzz. [Service User, 14 years old] Why not? I was 12 when first used draw which is the block version of weed, you burn it and crumble it off. Got it off my sister s boyfriend because he used it and wanted to know what the fuss was about [Young Person, 17 years old] We want to see what the feelings are and what being stoned [Young Person, 16 years old] 28 June

8 Why Legalise Cannabis? 1. Is it a recognition of failing prohibition? 2. Is the argument that alcohol is less harmful than cannabis disappearing? 3. Is it more efficient as an economic reality? 4. Is it a reflection of development in other nations?

9 1. Is it a recognition of failing prohibition? The school knows there s a drug problem, but I ve gone in to a lesson clearly stoned before, but they don t say anything, she wasn t bothered, nothing was said [ ] advice probably wouldn t have helped anyway, I d have probably listened to it but then just gone and smoked later on. [Young Person, 17 years old] It s like a regular routine now, it s become part of our lives, it s not weird, it s just normal. [Young Person, 16 years old] It s the norm for people our age [Young Person, 16 years old]

10 2. Is the argument that alcohol is less harmful than cannabis disappearing? [Through alcohol] I once wet myself. I d never been like that ever. I just remember walking to [ANON]and being like my mind switched off and I was in a completely different place. After that I remember being on a field throwing up and throwing up, then I was in the car with my mum, we dropped [ANON] off and then wetting myself in the car. I mean I couldn t remember it. I then walked up the steps and fell down them three times. [Young Person, 14 years old] [Through alcohol] I just got in bad situations where I wasn t in control of myself. So it did feel dangerous at the and I could get scared [Service User, 18 years old]

11 3. Is it more efficient as an economic reality? I only knew about MCAT when it became illegal. It s illegal so everybody is on it. If they make weed legal everyone won t want it. I reckon they would make it legal because then they can tax it and make more money off it. [Service User, 15 years old]

12 4. Is it a reflection of development in other nations? What has led to a change in policy in other nations: Uruguay - organised crime? Portugal - harm red? California- medical use pressure? Colorado/Washington- big business? Arguably it appears young people will not be the sole reason motivating change in legal status or a central point of focus Some comparative reflection from a practice based perspective must start from the point of actual cannabis use among young people in the UK.

13 Concluding Remarks Studies suggest that decriminalising cannabis will increase use in young people. Legalising cannabis could decrease young peoples perceptions of the risk of use and increase their exposure to this drug. No country has legalised the use of cannabis outright. Therefore there are no studies available to evaluate the potential effect of legalisation in the UK. Future research should focus on: the medicinal use of cannabis; a practice based perspective comparing young peoples cannabis use in other countries. the transitional period from young person to adult. 28 June

14 References Crome, I. B. (2004) Young People and Substance Misuse. London: Gaskell. Crome, I. (2001) Co-existing Problems of Mental Health and Substance Misuse ('Dual Diagnosis'): A Review of Relevant Literature. College Research Unit: Department of Health Department of Health (2010) Drug Strategy Reducing Demand, Restricting Supply, Building Recovery (online). Available at: (Accessed March 12th 2013). Emmett, D. (2006) Understanding Street Drugs: A Handbook of Substance Misuse for Parents, Teachers and Other Professionals. London: J. Kingsley. Fuller, E. (2011) Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England. London: NatCen. Available at: (Accessed March 12th 2013). Joffe, A. and Yancy, S. (2004) Legalization of Marijuana: Potential Impact on Youth, Paediatrics, 113, 6, Kassel, J. (2010) Substance Abuse and Emotion. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association. NHS. (2012) Binge drinking. Available at: (Accessed March 2nd 2013). NTASM. (2011) Substance Misuse Among Young People London: National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse. Nottinghamshire County Council. (2012) Nottinghamshire Young People s Substance Misuse Plan (online). Available at: (Accessed March 12th 2013). Philips, R. (2004) Children Exposed to Parental Substance Misuse: Implications for Family Placement. London: British Association for Adoption & Fostering. Rassool, G.H. (2009) Alcohol and Drug Misuse: A Handbook for Students and Health Professionals. London: Routledge. Sawyer, E. (2012) Building Resilience in Families Under Stress: Supporting Families Affected by Parental Substance Misuse and/or Mental Health Problems: A Handbook for Practitioners. London: NCB. Stark, M. M. (2003) Symptoms and Signs of Substance Misuse. London: Greenwich Medical Media. Targeted Support Service. (2012) Nottinghamshire Young People's Substance Misuse Plan: Intervention and Treatment Services Nottinghamshire: Targeted Support. Williams J (2003). The effects of price and policy on marijuana use: what can be learned from the Australian experience? Health Economics [serial online]. Available at: www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/ /start. Accessed May 13, 2003 World Health Organization (1997). Cannabis: a health perspective and research agenda. Geneva: WHO Youth Justice Board for England and Wales. (2003) Substance Misuse. London: Youth Justice Board for England and Wales.