Cannabis – Medium to High Risk

Thanks for using our self-assessment tool; you have indicated that you are using cannabis at a medium-high level.

We know that  using cannabis can have desirable effects like feeling happier and more relaxed and as you’re probably well aware ; any cannabis use can have short term negative effects like dry mouth or pasty mouth, trouble concentrating, blurred vision, slowed reflexes, audio and visual disturbances, increased heart rate, lowering of blood pressure, mild anxiety and paranoia.

Long term negative effects of using cannabis can include: increase in symptoms increase in symptoms of anxiety, depression and psychosis, reduced memory and cognitive impairment, mood swings, reduced libido, decreased fertility and drug dependency. Beyond the physical impacts, high risk cannabis use can also lead to financial, work and social problems.

The good news is that if you stop using cannabis, you may start sleeping better, your breathing will improve, you will have more energy and stamina, your sex drive will return to normal and your diet, appetite and complexion will improve.

If you would like to cut down your cannabis use check out our resources section , Touchbase (an LGBTI focused website for alcohol and other drug information and support) or the World Health Organisation self-help manual .

Maybe it’s time to get in touch with ACON’s Substance support team? Substance Support provides confidential and FREE short term counselling for LGBTI people and people living with HIV seeking support in relation to their use of alcohol and other drugs. Substance Support counsellors’ work from a harm reduction approach to assist clients reach their goals to manage use, reduce or quit.

You can contact Substance Support here or on (02) 9206 2000. Counselling not your thing? You can also call the alcohol and drug information service (ADIS). ADIS is a 24 hour telephone based information , education, referral and support service call 9361 8000 in Sydney or 1800 422 599 (non-metro areas).

To reduce the risks and harms associated with cannabis use, the safest option is not to use it. However  to reduce the harms of using cannabis:  try eating it in cookies, cakes, brownies, etc. as ingesting it avoids all the harms associated with smoking and if you do choose to smoke cannabis; try to avoid mixing cannabis with tobacco as it can increase the intake of toxins and if using a bong use a bong made of glass, stainless steel or brass as bongs made of plastic, rubber, wood and aluminium, can give off toxic fumes when subjected to heat (Information from Steve Liebke’s  “A Cannabis User’s Harm Reduction Handbook”).