1. Cannabis: Reducing Harm Paul Jacob, substance misuse worker, Brighton and Hove Youth Offending Team

2. Smoking amongst young people  Smoking tobacco is declining amongst young people  6% 11-15 smoke at least once a week  22% 16-19 years olds smoke at least once a week  30% 20-24 year olds smoke at least once a week  Girls are more likely to smoke tobacco than boys

3. Cannabis use amongst young people  Cannabis is by far the most commonly used illegal drug amongst young people  Use peaks between ages 16-24  10% boys and 9% girls aged 11 – 15 used it in the last year  25% young men and 15% young women aged 16 - 24 used it in the last year  Boys are more likely to smoke cannabis than girls (Dept of Health 2009 Focal Point: UK Drug Situation)

4. Substance use amongst young people who offend  Cannabis use (86%) exceeds tobacco use (85%)  64% say cannabis is their ‘favourite’ drug  Substance use more likely to occur at an earlier age  Cannabis use more frequently precedes or occurs alongside initial tobacco use  Use is more likely to be more frequent and intense  Almost all always smoke skunk, some occasionally smoke resin  Almost all smoke in joints with tobacco, some also smoke a cannabis and tobacco mix in a bong (Hammersley, R. et al (2003) Substance Use by Young Offenders: The Impact of The Normalisation of Drug Use in the 21st Century, London: Home Office)

5. Cannabis and Nicotine – Hypotheses and Observations  Nicotine addiction may exacerbate cannabis dependency  Tobacco use may increase the frequency and intensity of cannabis use  Early tobacco use seems to increase likelihood of later substance misuse  Cannabis may relieve nicotine withdrawal symptoms and vice versa  Nicotine replacement therapy and stopping smoking appear to support cannabis reduction or cessation

6. Harm Reduction Interventions  Separate tobacco and cannabis use  Switch from joint to blunt, bong, pipe, vaporiser or oral  Alternate ingestion method  Reduce impact on sleep  Tracing Triggers  Switching from skunk to standard weed or cannabis resin

7. Harm Reduction Interventions  Identify and work towards ‘optimum minimum dose’  NRT reduces cravings for cannabis and frequency of use  Scaling each smoke  Increase gaps between smokes  Use less cannabis in each smoke  Take regular breaks – to avoid ‘tolerance’

8. ru-ok? ru-ok? Young Persons Substance Misuse Service Ovest House 58 West Street Brighton BN1 2RA 01273 293966 ru-ok@brighton-hove.gov.uk ru-ok@brighton-hove.gov.uk