Ø The expression
drug addiction should no longer be used and we should talk instead of
substance abuse and dependency.
Ø Between 5% and
10% of regular cannabis users are at risk of developing a dependency.
Ø Physical
dependency on cannabis is virtually non-existent.
Ø Psychological
dependency is moderate and is certainly
lower than that for nicotine or alcohol.
Ø Most regular
users of cannabis are able to diverge from a trajectory of dependency without
requiring treatment.
Ø There are many
forms of treatment but nothing is known about the effectiveness of the different
forms of treatment for cannabis dependency specifically.
Ø As a rule,
treatment is more effective and less costly than a prison sentence.
Ø Studies of the
treatment programs should be conducted, including treatments programs for
people with cannabis dependency.
Ø Studies should
be conducted of the interaction between the cannabinoid system and the opioid
system.
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