May 26 program to mull over cannabis intervention
May 12, 2009A new Rural Health Education Foundation television program airing on Tuesday 26th May is designed to improve the knowledge, skills and capacity of health professionals to detect and treat cannabis use problems and associated harms.
Mulling It Over: Cannabis Intervention in Primary Health Care considers the short and long term effects of cannabis use, cannabis dependence and comorbid mental health issues.
The hour-long program examines the latest research, intervention and best practice treatment options and outlines the principles of a brief intervention, and will assist primary health care practitioners to recognise and screen high-risk groups.
Addressing the harm caused by our most popular illicit drug
“Cannabis is still the easiest to obtain, most widely used and least disapproved of illicit drug in Australia, and its use is increasing in our Indigenous communities,” says Rural Health Education Foundation CEO Don Perlgut. “But there is growing evidence that cannabis use is associated with mental health problems, respiratory disorders, road accidents, and other illicit drug use.”
“This new program explores the role of primary health care professionals in rural practice and the issues they face in dealing with cannabis use,” Mr Perlgut says. “It also provides effective evidence-based interventions for the prevention and treatment of cannabis-related problems.”
Presented by an expert panel
The program format is a panel discussion chaired by Dr Norman Swan, Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National.
The panel of leading medical practitioners features Associate Professor Alan Clough from the School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine & Rehabilitation Science and School of Indigenous Australian Studies at James Cook University in Cairns, QLD; Professor Jan Copeland, Director of the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre at the University of NSW in Sydney; Ms Tess Finch, Manager of the Sutherland Cannabis Clinic, SESIAHS, in Sydney; and Dr Fares Samara, a General Practitioner and Fellow of the Chapter of Addictions Medicine in Kempsey, NSW.
Program funding
Mulling It Over: Cannabis Intervention in Primary Health Care is produced with funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Broadcast details
Mulling It Over: Cannabis Intervention in Primary Health Care will be broadcast across the Rural Health Education Foundation’s satellite television network on Tuesday 26th May at 8.00pm (AEST), with repeats at 8.00pm Perth time that same evening (two hours later) and 12.30pm on Friday 29th May.
Available on DVD and the web
DVD copies of this program will be available after the broadcasts via our website. The program will also be available free on the Internet for viewing via web-streamed video or listening via an audio podcast.
Cannabis use and its consequences
According to the 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 33.5% of the Australian population, or 5.8 million people over the age of 14, have tried cannabis at least once during their lives. About 600,000 had used cannabis in the week preceding the survey. Although that survey is considered to underestimate the extent and frequency of cannabis use, it also found that 49% of all 20-29 year olds reported having used the drug.
There is growing evidence that cannabis use, and particularly heavy regular or dependent use, is associated with a range of adverse health and other consequences, including educational and occupational difficulties resulting from the adverse motivational and cognitive impact. Research has also shown that following heroin, cannabis is one of the most common drugs associated with ‘having a drug problem’.
More information
For more information about this program - including presenter details, access instructions and associated educational resources - refer to the online program summary or contact the Foundation.
Mulling It Over: Cannabis Intervention in Primary Health Care complements the Foundation’s 2006 program The Can Do Initiative: Managing Mental Health and Substance Use in General Practice, which provides an introduction to the ADGP’s Can Do Initiative and explores the needs of patients with mental health and substance use issues and how they can be recognised and effectively managed.