Cannabis is doing major damage to the mental health of youngsters with related hospital admissions climbing by a staggering 300%.
Experts at the College of Psychiatrists have issued an urgent warning as the drug is “the gravest threat” to teenagers, increasing psychosis, depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation.
The study also shows that one in three young people are expected to become addicted if they use it at least once a week, with the herb getting more potent according to seizures from the Gardai.
The strength of weed has increased dramatically since 2000 where it was shown as having 6% THC while now, it is as high as 16%.
Anything above 10% is known as high-potency cannabis and this increase has been noted all across Europe between 2006 and 2016.
Dr William Flannery, president of the College of Psychiatrists, said: “Cannabis represents the gravest threat to the mental health of young people in Ireland today.
“It is by far the most widely used illegal drug in the country and we know that its potency has spiked in recent years, leading to a significant rise in hospital admissions among young people with a cannabis-related diagnosis.
However, despite this, there is still a general feeling among the public that the drug is mostly harmless.
“This conception needs to be challenged at every turn because psychiatric services are under huge pressure due to this problem.”
Dr Gerry McCarney, Consultant Child and Adolescent Addiction Psychiatrist, added: “As many as one in three young people who use cannabis weekly or more often will likely become addicted.
“When you consider how potent the drug has become in recent years, it is obvious we are facing a perfect storm which has the potential to overrun our psychiatric services.
“We cannot overstate the danger that this increasingly potent drug poses to young people’s mental health.
“Adolescents are at particular risk from mind-altering substances such as cannabis as their brains have not fully developed.
“Cannabis can be hugely damaging to young people, affecting their ability to learn social and problem-solving skills, while potentially stunting cognitive ability and general emotional intelligence.
“We are calling on the Government to conduct an urgent review of cannabis use in Ireland and its related harms, as well as initiating a comprehensive public awareness campaign on the dangers of the drug.”
