While ice currently takes centre stage in Australia with more than 230,000 users*, cannabis remains the most commonly used illicit drug in the country, with 1.9 million recent users and 200,000 people silently struggling with their addiction.
This month the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre (NCPIC) offers hope to those dealing with the daily mental and physical struggles of cannabis addiction, through a new app designed to support cutting down and quitting for good.
“People just aren’t aware that weed can be addictive, I know I wasn’t”, says 25 year-old father of one, Stuart Angel, who feels the popular perceptions of cannabis can be very misleading.
“While some people can use weed without any issues, other people can be really badly affected,” he said.
“If it’s all you can think about all day every day, then that’s bound to have a negative impact on other areas of your life.”
Stuart says it was becoming a father to his one year old son that has been the main motivating factor in his decision to quit cannabis after smoking on average a gram each day for more than eight years.
“[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]After my son was born, I knew it was time. I wanted to be a strong role model for him, actively involved in his life every day, not someone who woke up every morning feeling really tired and lethargic; it was like I was hung over all the time,’’ he says.[/social_quote]
While Stuart says he understands the difficulties of quitting cannabis – the cravings, the withdrawal symptoms and the frequent relapses – he is living proof there is life beyond the drug.
“The first week was the hardest,’’ he says.
“I was irritable, sweating a lot, and sleeping really badly. But after those initial withdrawals wore off I noticed things starting to improve pretty quickly.
“I’m now sleeping a lot better and have heaps more energy during the day.
“You just have to get through those early days of withdrawals and then things become a lot easier after that.”
Stuart recently started using NCPIC’s Joint Effort Quit app to help him plan his quitting journey, and says it’s been a really useful tool in the process.
“It’s still early days for me, but so far the Joint Effort app has been great. There’s nothing else out there like this, so it’s good to know there is help available that is targeted to the needs of people trying to quit weed.”
Dr Peter Gates, senior researcher at NCPIC, says there’s a real lack of understanding around the addictive nature of cannabis and how challenging it can be to quit once use becomes regular.
“Some people say cannabis is a harmless herb and disregard the potential for dependence and withdrawal,’’ says Dr Gates.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“But for at least 200,000 Australians, cannabis addiction is a very real issue, and these kinds of attitudes belittle and stigmatise the challenges faced by some people when trying to quit the drug for good.[/social_quote]
“As with any addiction, it’s the withdrawal that can be the hardest hurdle to overcome.
“People often feel very strong cravings when they quit, particularly around the time of day they would usually be lighting up a joint or a bong.
“At the same time they can also suffer from depression, irritability, anxiety, nausea, shakiness, chills, sweating, and difficulty sleeping, which can put an obvious strain on relationships, work or study, and often leads to relapse.”
NCPIC has just launched the Joint Effort app last week, which is designed specifically to help people who have decided they need to quit or cut down their cannabis use.
The free app allows users to set realistic goals while they monitor their progress, track mood and spending, keep journals, identify triggers and risks, and make plans to overcome these challenges.
Users can also “buddy up’’ with someone else who is quitting and use the app to communicate, motivate each other, provide support, and celebrate joint milestones.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“Cannabis addiction is a unique issue with its own set of challenges – and one often overlooked because people think of it as a relatively harmless drug,’’ says Dr Gates.[/social_quote]
“It’s really exciting to have an accessible solution available on mobile devices and desktop, which ensures people can stay on track regardless of where they are and what time of day it is. This app is the first of its kind for cannabis – it provides Australians with support and a game plan that is tailor made just for them,” says Dr Gates.
♦ The Joint Effort app is now available for free download for iPhone and Android. For more information about Joint Effort and cannabis addiction, visit the NCPIC website.
♦ If you are a cannabis user and would like to take part in a study on withdrawals, please contact info@ncpic.org.au.
♦ Individuals who currently have concerns or problems related to their cannabis use can access the free National Cannabis Information and Helpline on 1800 30 40 50.
*2013 NDSH Survey.
