Teenage drug use ‘causes mental illness’

TEENAGE cannabis smokers are at greater risk of developing schizophrenia, psychosis and having long-term memory loss, a conference was told yesterday.

Studies have also shown that cannabis smoking among pregnant women can lead to concentration difficulties in their offspring which can continue through their school years, consultant psychiatrist Dr Mary Cannon said.

Dr Cannon said she is worried about statistics which show that up to a third of 15-year-olds in certain parts of the country have smoked the soft drug.

Smokers, aged 15 and younger, with a family history of schizophrenia are particularly at risk, the Irish Psychiatric Association annual conference in Dublin was told.

“People have to realise that cannabis is not harmless, especially in the young. It has a particular effect on the developing brain as it can affect the flow of blood to the front lobe of the brain,” Dr Cannon explained.

“People who smoke cannabis for a number of years can also damage their memory and attention span. For young starters, their memory and concentration abilities may not recover even after they give up the drug.”

International studies in this area have shown that the majority of early adolescent smokers are not affected by the drug but a minority are.

Dr Cannon, who is based at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin and an established researcher on cannabis, said the drug is much stronger now than in the 60s and 70s.

“The problem with cannabis smoking is that side effects may not develop for years to come. It is a problem in waiting,” she warned.

Meanwhile, there are sharp regional differences in the numbers of people attempting suicide, the conference was also told.

Attempted suicide, or parasuicide, is highest in Limerick city at 425 attempts per every 100,000 males.

Limerick also has the highest rates of female suicide attempts.

The next highest male rate is Galway city where there are 260 attempts per 100,000 males

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Justin Brophy, who presented the new research, said that almost a third of under 18s in Limerick drank alcohol before trying to commit suicide.

“Limiting access to alcohol in underage drinkers is crucial in reducing attempted suicide figures,” he said.