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The Scottish government says that Scotland has a “troubled relationship” with both alcohol and illicit drug use. A recent report states, “Since the 1980s, we have seen substantially increased alcohol consumption, and consequently, high levels of alcohol-related harm. We also remain extremely concerned by the continued rise in drug-related harm and are fully committed to tackling this complex problem.”

Cannabis is often portrayed as a less severe problem than many other drugs. It may be less harmful than opioids such as heroin and the misuse of prescription painkillers, while alcohol misuse causes more harm to society and the population as a whole.

Cannabis misuse has been linked to a range of mental health and other issues and is increasingly seen as a serious problem in its own right.

 

Drug Addiction in Scotland

The same government report found that every adult in Scotland was, on average, drinking more than a third (36%) more than the UK-wide lower-risk guidelines of 14 units per week. Many would drink less or not drink at all, while many others would drink far more.

It added that accurate estimates on illegal drug use were harder to make but that the most recent study of problem drug use in Scotland suggested that it was somewhere between 55,800 and 58,900. In this context, problem drug use only considered opioids and benzodiazepines – a psychoactive sedative sometimes known as ‘benzos’ or ‘blues’.

So-called ‘hard’ drugs are indeed a serious problem in Scotland. 2020 saw a record number of 1,339 drug deaths, 4.5 times higher than the figure recorded two decades earlier in 2000.

It was also the highest per capita rate of drug deaths in Europe (at 25.2 deaths per 100,000 people) and over three and a half times that in the rest of the UK.

Some other figures released by National Records of Scotland (NRS) was that a ‘cocktail’ of drugs may have been involved in many cases, with more than one substance found in the bodies of 93% of drug death victims. People from Scotland’s most disadvantaged areas were 18 times more likely to suffer a drug-related death than those in the wealthiest.

The average age of a person dying a drug-related death had also risen from 32 in 2000 to 43 in 2020, with nearly two-thirds being aged between 35-54. This suggested that years of addiction and long-term misuse contributed to their deaths.

 

The Risks of Cannabis Use

Cannabis might not be as harmful as substances like opioids, but numerous studies and reports have found that it can still be very harmful, especially to mental health.

Getting intoxicated, high or stoned on cannabis can lead to poor decision-making, slow reactions, and affect coordination. This can be particularly dangerous in situations like driving or operating machinery and can increase the risk of accidents and poor decisions in everyday life.

Long-term use of cannabis can worsen some existing mental health conditions, and there is evidence to suggest that it can trigger or cause some mental health issues. One of the reasons is that marijuana strains have been cultivated to drastically increase the amount of the active ingredient THC, making cannabis much stronger.

According to the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), there is three times the concentration of THC in today’s strains of marijuana than there was 25 years ago. SAMHSA also notes that, contrary to popular belief, research has shown that cannabis can be addictive.

It suggests that one in six people who start using the drug before 18 and one in ten adults who use cannabis can become addicted.

Drug addiction can bring its own issues, including building up a tolerance to the drug, you need more and more for the same effect, changes in the way the brain works and dependency leading to withdrawal symptoms if you do not use cannabis. Cannabis can also sometimes serve as a gateway drug.

Users may want to experience different or stronger effects provided by other substances or may put themselves in social circles and situations where the use of other drugs is prevalent.

 

While there is a movement to get cannabis legalised, or at the very least decriminalised, in Scotland, it remains illegal throughout the UK. In Scotland, it is in the Class B category of illicit drugs and other substances such as speed, ketamine, and some versions of codeine.

There have been reports, however, that police have adopted a softer approach after guidance changed in 2016, allowing them to issue a warning to cannabis users rather than prosecuting them. This saw the number of prosecutions halved between 2016 and 2021. This has been linked in some quarters to a rise in the admission of cannabis users seeking psychiatric treatment.

According to reports, they increased from 1,191 in 2015/16 to 2,067 in 2021.

 

5 Signs of Cannabis Addiction

Not everyone who uses cannabis becomes addicted, but dependency can sneak up on you without realising it.

Here are some signs that you might have a problem…

  • Increased tolerance to the drug: You need to use more and more cannabis to get the same effect. This may mean using more throughout the day or seeking out stronger versions.
  • Unable to stop: If you are developing a dependency, you will continue to use cannabis despite adverse consequences. You may also find it impossible to quit or cut down, even if you try.
  • Anxiety about securing more cannabis: You may be preoccupied with making sure you have access to the drug. This can become an increasingly important focus in your life, to the detriment of other aspects of your life.
  • Losing interest in other things: Addiction affects parts of the brain associated with pleasure and reward, and this can lead to other activities that used to be enjoyable having less of an effect.
  • Withdrawal Symptoms: If you don’t use cannabis, you may experience a range of withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, mood swings, depression, restlessness and physical issues such as sweating, chills or tremors.

If you are worried about your own cannabis use or that of a loved one, it might be time to seek professional help. Cannabis addiction can be successfully treated like any other addiction, and drug rehab in Scotland could be your best way forward.

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John Gillen - Director & Author at Nova Recovery

John Gillen - Author - Last updated: September 8, 2023

John has travelled extensively around the world, culminating in 19 years’ experience looking at different models. He is the European pioneer of NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) treatment to Europe in 2010; and recently back from the USA bringing state of the art Virtual Reality Relapse Prevention and stress reduction therapy. His passion extends to other metabolic disturbances and neurodegenerative diseases. The journey continues. In recent times, John has travelled to Russia to study and research into a new therapy photobiomudulation or systemic laser therapy working with NAD+ scientists and the very best of the medical professionals in the UK and the USA, together with Nadcell, Bionad Hospitals own select Doctors, nurses, dieticians and therapists. Johns’ passion continues to endeavour to bring to the UK and Europe new developments with NAD+ Therapy in preventive and restorative medicine and Wellness. In 2017 John Gillen was made a visiting Professor at the John Naisbitt university in Belgrade Serbia.

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