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Bluelight Crew
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Drug group alarmed at cannabis survey results
The Victorian Government's peak drug prevention body says heavy cannabis use has become a major concern among young people.
A survey of more than 6,000 Victorians between the ages of 16 and 24 found a disturbing trend of heavy cannabis use.
Nearly 3 per cent of respondents use the drug daily and up to 5 per cent use it more than once a week.
The chairman of the Premiers Drug Prevention Council, Rob Moodie, says heavy use is leading to isolation and depression.
"Our levels of cannabis use in Australia are higher than any other English speaking country," he said.
Dr Moodie says a new approach is needed.
"We just don't seem to be doing very well with it at the moment," he said.
"It's the amount of use and the problematic use that's the real problem. That's when it becomes a hard drug, in a sense, when it's being used daily and more frequently.
"It really is damaging young people's lives and older people's lives, that's when it's a problem, no matter what title it has. That's when it's really causing harm and that's what we have to focus on - the harmful problematic use."
The results of the survey will be discussed at a forum in Melbourne today.
From ABC News