UNODC drug report: Rise in US cannabis use treatments

BBC ^ | June 26 2014 | BBC

[PoloSec]

Cannabis use in the United States has increased, with more people visiting hospital emergency departments over its use, a UN report says.

The potency of the drug in the US appeared to have increased, making it more harmful, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime's World Drugs Report added.

It said it was too early to tell if the legalisation of cannabis in two US states had had an impact on drug use.

Global illegal opium poppy farming rose 26% between 2012 and 2013, it added.

"In the United States, the lower perceived risk of cannabis use has led to an increase in its use," the report said, although global use of cannabis appeared to have fallen.

There was a 56% increase in US cannabis-related emergency department visits between 2006 and 2010, and a 14% increase in admission to treatment centres for drug abuse over the same period, the report said, citing US government data. File photo: Afghan farmers collect raw opium as they work in their poppy field in Khogyani District of Nangarhar province, 29 April 2013 Afghanistan is the world's largest cultivator of opium

The percentage of people in the US aged 12 or older who admitted to using marijuana in the past year had increased from 10% in 2008 to 12% in 2012, the report added. 'Complex relationship'

One reason for the increased need for medical treatment is thought to be an increased potency in the drug, the report said.

"In some parts of the world we have seen that the content of the main psychotic substance, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), has increased, and this in a way makes the cannabis more harmful," UNODC research branch chief Angela Me told the BBC. line Risks of cannabis use

The dangers of smoking cannabis, and the potential health benefits, have

[lormand]

"with more people visiting hospital emergency departments over its use"

wait what?

[allendale]

As drug use becomes more widespread especially in women of child bearing age, you don’t need an advanced degree in neurosciences to understand why more children are being born with autism, learning disabilities and behavioral abnormalities.There is a cost to the neo pagan epicurean decadence that too many people are embracing.

[Osage Orange]

And people tell me all the time...it’s nothing. Way less of a problem than drinking...

[HiTech RedNeck]

It probably will kill less people than drinking will, or does. Many people who habitually became drunk will switch to getting stoned, and ease up on the bottle.

But we knew what to expect out of alcohol abuse. This will be something new and weird.

It goes without saying that abusing anything is bad. But there is a silver lining here, I believe. People will have only their personal selves to blame. This could set the stage for a return to God that people might have put off while it seemed that Uncle Caesar was their savior by keeping them in a virtual rubber room.

[tacticalogic]

There was a 56% increase in US cannabis-related emergency department visits between 2006 and 2010

What's that translate to in actual numbers? You can claim a 56% increase if it went from 13 to 25.

[BuckeyeTexan]

So, I Googled it and found that opium is a separate plant from marijuana. What gives?

“Opium can be smoked, intravenously injected, or taken in pill form. Opium is also abused in combination with other drugs. For example, ‘Black’ is a combination of marijuana, opium, and methamphetamine, and ‘Buddha’ is potent marijuana spiked with opium.”

Is this report suggesting that increased ER visits are a result of increased use of “Black” and/or “Buddha?” Are the states where marijuana is legal illegally selling opium-laced marijuana?

[Dapper 26]

You are absolutely spot on. Teachers in the primary grades have been yelling about this for awhile now. And the parents are clueless when it comes to parenting.....most of them kids themselves.

[Osage Orange]

We shall see....

Not sure how you come to those conclusions.....without data. It's just opinion.

Moderation in all things!!

[When do we get liberated?]

I just had a hysterical thought...What was it like the first month they let people drink again after prohibition? Stay off the sidewalk that first week!

[EEGator]

Very scientific conclusion.

[ConservingFreedom]

There was a 56% increase in US cannabis-related emergency department visits between 2006 and 2010,

"Cannabis-related" means merely that the patient said yes when asked if they'd used cannabis. By this logic all ER visits are "water-related."

and a 14% increase in admission to treatment centres for drug abuse over the same period, the report said, citing US government data.

And how many of those were non-abusers who were there because a court said 'treatment or jail'?

One reason for the increased need for medical treatment is thought to be an increased potency in the drug, the report said.

More potent cannabis in and of itself means only that one needs to inhale less smoke to achieve the desired effect - like drinking liquor instead of beer. If a problem arises, it's because the higher potency was unexpected, since black market products don't have content labels - another good argument for relegalization.

"In some parts of the world we have seen that the content of the main psychotic substance, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

If there is any such thing as a "psychotic substance," THC ain't it. I considered making the charitable assumption that they mis-stated the term "psychoactive" - but this report is so full of blatant nonsense I'm not sure it wasn't deliberate.