This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7891857.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Cannabis advert warns of danger | Cannabis advert warns of danger |
(about 4 hours later) | |
An advertising campaign warning of links between cannabis use and mental health damage has been launched. | |
The TV advert depicts the drug's side-effects as memory loss, paranoia and panic attacks, using unwanted guests at a party in the user's brain. | |
The £2.2m Home Office campaign, backing up the drug's reclassification as class B, is aimed at 11 to 18-year-olds. | The £2.2m Home Office campaign, backing up the drug's reclassification as class B, is aimed at 11 to 18-year-olds. |
It urges youngsters curious about the drug to "Talk to Frank" by calling an information line or visiting a website. | It urges youngsters curious about the drug to "Talk to Frank" by calling an information line or visiting a website. |
The Frank campaign aims to give youngsters advice on the dangers of drugs, the law around their use and how to get help. | The Frank campaign aims to give youngsters advice on the dangers of drugs, the law around their use and how to get help. |
Spokesman Chris Hudson said "binge smoking" Britain's most commonly used illegal drug to achieve maximum effect may be putting people's mental health in serious danger. We need hard-hitting campaigns like this to convince people just how frightening the effects of cannabis can be Marjorie Wallace, Sane | |
"There is evidence of a link between cannabis and mental health problems such as schizophrenia, and those who first use it at an early age may be more at risk," he said. | "There is evidence of a link between cannabis and mental health problems such as schizophrenia, and those who first use it at an early age may be more at risk," he said. |
"You never truly know what you're getting and stronger cannabis, such as skunk, can increase the chance of suffering a nasty reaction." | "You never truly know what you're getting and stronger cannabis, such as skunk, can increase the chance of suffering a nasty reaction." |
In the advert, cannabis user Simon smokes a joint and at first feels giggly, talkative and craves food, before the side effects of the drug take over. | In the advert, cannabis user Simon smokes a joint and at first feels giggly, talkative and craves food, before the side effects of the drug take over. |
Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of mental health charity Sane, said: "We need hard-hitting campaigns like this to convince people just how frightening the effects of cannabis can be. | |
"For those who are vulnerable, taking it may not be just chilling out for an evening but could mean robbing themselves of their chances in life." | "For those who are vulnerable, taking it may not be just chilling out for an evening but could mean robbing themselves of their chances in life." |
Personality change | Personality change |
William Bell, who started smoking cannabis when he was 14, said the advert would have more of an impact on 10 and 11 year olds. | William Bell, who started smoking cannabis when he was 14, said the advert would have more of an impact on 10 and 11 year olds. |
"It might stop them starting," he told BBC News. "I started using about 14 and in about two years, I became a regular smoker - five or six spliffs a day, which is not unusual. | "It might stop them starting," he told BBC News. "I started using about 14 and in about two years, I became a regular smoker - five or six spliffs a day, which is not unusual. |
"My moral guidelines became very blurred. I was stealing, lying, very much living in my own little bubble." | "My moral guidelines became very blurred. I was stealing, lying, very much living in my own little bubble." |
His mother Debra, of the Talking About Cannabis Parental Action Group, said when they first discovered he was smoking cannabis, they were not overly concerned. | His mother Debra, of the Talking About Cannabis Parental Action Group, said when they first discovered he was smoking cannabis, they were not overly concerned. |
"At the time we were thinking cannabis was fairly innocuous," she said. | "At the time we were thinking cannabis was fairly innocuous," she said. |
"The alarm was not raised until much later. It was serious personality changes. William went from being very academic, very sporty, a good student, loving son. It was this sense he started to turn against the family." | "The alarm was not raised until much later. It was serious personality changes. William went from being very academic, very sporty, a good student, loving son. It was this sense he started to turn against the family." |
New penalties for cannabis users were introduced when the drug was reclassified. | New penalties for cannabis users were introduced when the drug was reclassified. |
Anyone caught in possession of the drug is now given a warning, followed by a fine and prosecution for a third offence. Dealers can be jailed for up to 14 years. | Anyone caught in possession of the drug is now given a warning, followed by a fine and prosecution for a third offence. Dealers can be jailed for up to 14 years. |