Cannabis withdrawal syndrome has been identified, with symptoms such as insomnia, feeling nervous and irritable, tremor and nausea. In addition to mental illness increasing a person's vulnerability to cannabis, there is evidence that adolescence is also a vulnerability factor. Adolescents can experience emotional problems that cue cannabis use, which may interfere with learning and personal development and may also lead to use of other drugs. Polydrug use is also common among young people, and this practice may lead to more severe mental health problems than cannabis use alone. Personality may also be another vulnerability factor, and there is a very high incidence of drug misuse among people with antisocial personality disorder.
Research is needed into treatment for patients with mental illness and substance misuse problems.
Information For further details or press copies of the full paper, contact Deborah Hart or Vanessa Hudson in the External Affairs Department.