One in four addicted to cannabis

14 May 2007

BRUSSELS – Almost one in four of the young drug users who seek professional help is addicted to cannabis. Seven years ago that figure was just one in ten.

The figures come from the Flemish Association for Addiction Treatment Centres (VVBV), the umbrella organisation of 21 drug treatment centres.

“The largest group of problematic cannabis users are 20 to 30 year olds who started using cannabis at a (very) young age,” says Dirk Vandevelde of the VVBV.

“The users that come to us say they can no longer function normally in their relationship, at school or at work. They need several joints a day to feel good. A joint is no longer a pleasure for them, but a necessity.”

Recent study shows that there has not been an increase in the number of young people using cannabis. But what is worrying is that more and more young users seem to be having problems as a result of cannabis use.

Vandevelde says the policy of tolerance is hypocritical and full of inconsistencies. “The result is that many young people think that cannabis is harmless and end up having problems more quickly as a result.”

Subject: Belgian news