As the Citizens’ Assembly gathers for the first time this weekend, CORMAC O KEEFFE examines the big questions it proposes to tease out over just six weekends between now and October
Lockdown sparks cannabis boom as stressed & jobless Brits turn to drug
Investigation
Updated: 5 Feb 2021, 13:02
BRITS bored, stressed and jobless in lockdown have fuelled a boom in cannabis use raising fears of a mental health timebomb.
Huge demand has led county lines gangs to flood regions with the drug.
4
Buyers are people missing the buzz of social contact, or self-medicating to relieve anxiety.
Cannabis has become cheap and plentiful as pub and club closures mean less demand for party drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy.
Those caught dealing, growing or in possession know the punishments are less severe.
Advice service Release surveyed adult users and found seven out of 10 transactions since the pandemic started have been for cannabis.
E-Mail
IMAGE: Professor Mary Cannon, Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology and Youth Mental Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences view more
Credit: Ray Lohan/ RCSI
Thursday, 28 January 2021: A study has found that adolescents who frequently use cannabis may experience a decline in Intelligence Quotient (IQ) over time. The findings of the research provide further insight into the harmful neurological and cognitive effects of frequent cannabis use on young people.
The paper, led by researchers at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, is published in
Psychological Medicine.
The results revealed that there were declines of approximately 2 IQ points over time in those who use cannabis frequently compared to those who didn t use cannabis. Further analysis suggested that this decline in IQ points was primarily related to reduction in verbal IQ.