|
Ø The infrastructure of national
knowledge about the trends and circumstances of cannabis use is fundamentally
weak and desperately needs strengthening.
âØ
The epidemiological
data available indicates that close to 30% of the population (12 to 64 years
old) has used cannabis at least once.
âØ
Approximately 10%
used cannabis during the previous year.
âØ
Up to 30% of those
who used cannabis in the last year are current users (have used cannabis this
month).
Ø Approximately 15% of current users
would be daily users
âØ
Use is highest
between the ages of 16 and 24.
âØ
The prevalence of use
during the current year is highest, approximately 40%, in young people of
high school age.
âØ
The prevalence of
monthly use in young people is approximately 30%.
âØ
The prevalence of
daily use in young people is approximately 9%.
Ø The average age of introduction to
cannabis is 15.
âØ
Most experimenters
stop using cannabis.
âØ
Regular users were
generally introduced to cannabis at a younger age.
âØ
Long-term users most
often have a trajectory in which use
rises and falls.
âØ
Long-term regular
users experience a period of heavy use in their early 20s.
âØ
Most long-term users
integrate their use into their family, social and occupational activities.
âØ
Cannabis itself is
not a cause of other drug use.
âØ
Cannabis use can be a
gateway because it is illegal, which puts users in contact with other
substances.
â
âØ
Cannabis itself is
not a cause of delinquency and crime.
âØ
Young people with a
trajectory of regular and heavy use are often already on a deviant if not
delinquent trajectory.
Ø Cannabis is not a cause of
violence.
|
