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Understanding cannabis smoking
Harry Shapiro and Brian Pringle
Abstract
Cannabis came of age in the 1960s when it became a key
symbolic component of the social and cultural revolution
of the times. Its role as our most popular illicit drug
has never been challenged since, but has received a substantial
boost since the 1990s as drug culture has become more
mainstream and spread through use of the internet. Now
anywhere up to 50% of those aged 16 to 24 say they have
tried the drug at least once. For those who use it, cannabis
performs a number of social roles including bonding, an
escape from boredom and an alternative to alcohol. There
are two main types of cannabis used in the UK - herbal
and resin - and a variety of smoking methods including
those not involving tobacco. Claims that cannabis is substantially
stronger now that in earlier times are not substantiated
by research which has also shown that in some cases, psychoactive
content can be low because of adulteration by traffickers.
Biographies
Harry Shapiro is editor of Druglink and head of
publishing at Drugscope. He is an author, journalist and
lecturer who has written very widely on the subject of
drugs from peer reviewed academic articles to books for
young people. He is the author of Waiting for the Man:
the story of drugs and popular music and Shooting Stars:
drugs, Hollywood and the movies.
Harry Shapiro
Editor, Druglink Magazine
harrys@drugscope.org.uk
Brian Pringle
West Lothian Drug and Alcohol Service (WLDAS)
Brian Pringle works for West Lothian Drug & Alcohol
Service, a mutisubstance specialist service providing,
education, training and interventions. One element of
his post is to provide a specialist smoking cessation
service.
One of his client group's includes people who smoke tobacco
and also use cannabis and he will be covering how he approaches
this in very practical terms and how he supports clients
in their attempt to stop either, or both substances.
Brian has a strong commitment to services being inclusive
and believes that smoking cessation services are in excellent
position to help people with problematic Cannabis use.
Brian has worked in the field of dependence for the last
15 years, initially with people experiencing alcohol problems,
then substance issues, before moving into the tobacco
field 7 years ago.
He is chair of the Scottish Tobacco Control Alliance
and in this capacity sits on the Ministerial Advisory
Group for Tobacco at the Scottish Executive, and was one
of the editing team for the recently published Smoking
Cessation Guidelines for Scotland.
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