New clinic tackles cannabis dependence
27 August 2009
Helping dispel the myth that cannabis is a ¡§soft and harmless drug¡¨ is one of the aims behind a new clinic offering help to people wanting to quit or reduce their cannabis use.
Hunter New England Health has opened the new service, one of six now operating around NSW, at premises in Newcastle West.
The clinic is available to people in the Newcastle and Hunter region, and a special outreach service will also run once a fortnight in Maitland.
Hunter Cannabis Clinic Service Manager Bill Robertson said the clinic provides an information and treatment service for cannabis users of all ages.
¡§The clinic is for all ages, but we certainly want to encourage young people into treatment and help people who might have both dependence and mental health problems,¡¨ Mr Robertson said.
¡§Cannabis is the most widely used illicit substance in Australia, yet relatively few cannabis users present for treatment.
¡§Part of the reason for this is the belief among some users that cannabis is not a heavy drug. They see it as a soft and harmless drug, but it isn¡¦t.¡¨
Mr Robertson said establishing a specialist clinic was one way to overcome some of the barriers that prevent people from taking up treatment.
¡§Cannabis users often believe that they should be able to stop using by themselves.
¡§Another factor in their reluctance to seek treatment is that they do not identify with users of other drugs such as heroin and are concerned about the stigma attached to attending mainstream drug and alcohol services.¡¨
The service, established by Hunter New England Health¡¦s Drug and Alcohol Clinical Services, will provide individually tailored treatment for users who identify cannabis as their primary drug of concern. Interventions will largely be based on counselling using cognitive behaviour therapy and other therapeutic approaches.
¡§Our aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of people affected by the use of cannabis, and to reduce the risk of harm to individuals, families and communities associated with cannabis use.
¡§The service is open to anyone 16 years old and above, although we are also able to take referrals young than 16 if permission is gained from a parent or guardian,¡¨ Mr Robertson said.
This is the first cannabis clinic to be established in the Hunter New England Health Area, however, other specialist cannabis clinics already operate on the Central Coast; Western Sydney; Sutherland, in Sydney¡¦s south; on the North Coast; and in the Central West.
• The Newcastle clinic is already taking clients. People can contact the service direct on 4923 6760 for an appointment, or be referred through GPs, other services or by family or friends. The clinic can also provide information and support for families, carers and friends.
• A fortnightly Maitland outreach service will begin on Thursday, 3 September, operating between 2pm and 6pm at the Headspace youth services venue in Elgin Street. Appointments can be made direct through Headspace on 4931 1000.
DID YOU KNOW:
According to the Australian National Drug Strategy Household Survey (2004):
ć Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in Australia
ć One in three Australians aged 14 and older, or approximately 5.5 million people, have used cannabis at some point in their lives
ć The average age at which Australians first used cannabis was 18.7 years
ć Males were more likely to use cannabis than females
ć Australians aged 30-39 were more likely than other age groups to have used cannabis every day.
Contact: Frances Holz
Phone: 4939 2216