VERSITET

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UNI      

PROBLEMATIC CANNABIS USERS IN THE DANISH DRUG TREATMENT SYSTEM

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The presentation is based on:

Draft from national data bases about substance abusers enrolled in

treatment.

Information from 50 records about clients enrolled in cannabis treatment.

The question is

What knowledge does the databases and the records produce about

heavy users of cannabis?

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What quantitative data?

In Denmark we got 3 different databases – made for different

reasons in different historic contexts. They use different

observation distinction.

SIB (Drug addicts in treatment) National Board of Health - public

health risk / no public health risk

DANRIS – registration and monitoring system at institutions – CFR

– Help/ no help

VBGS- waiting time for treatment guaranty - to be right or wrong

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Communication – what’s in the records1. What questions are written in the enrollment forms from

treating institutions?

2. What does the treatment provider chose to ask about?

3. How does the client understand the questions?

4. With what information do the clients choose to

respond?

5. What does the treatment provider understand of clients'

response?

6. What does the treatment provider chose to write down?

 

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PRIMARY DRUG OF ABUSE AMONG NEW CLIENTS ENTERING DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT

PROGRAM IN COPENHAGEN 1994-2009

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EMPLOYMENT SITUATION

DANRIS›Employed 22%›Students 5%›Unemployed 45%

H&K projektet›Employed 42%›Students 24% ›Unemployed 34%

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AGE AND SEX

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< 25 25 - 29 30 - 34 35 - 39 40 - 44 44<0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

WomenMen

Age

DANRIS: Men 27,3 and women 26,8

H&K projekt: Men 32,4 and women 32,7

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HOW MUCH CANNABIS DO THEY SMOKE IN A DAY?

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0,5 1 1,5 2 2,5 3 3,5 4 4,5 5 100

2

4

6

8

10

12

Total

Persons

Gram cannabis

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WHY DO THEY SEEK TREATMENT?

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› 19 out of 50 records mention no reason for seeking treatment ..

›  

› The 22 records about male clients:

› 12 say the reason is that, their partner will leave them otherwise.

› 2 economy, 2 to get a job or 2 requirements from prison, 3 to get a

psychiatric diagnosis; 2 complete their education

› The 9 records about female clients;

› 2 personal development, 2 their child’s wellbeing; 2 to complete their

education; 1 to get a psychiatric diagnosis

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MALE REASONS:- Flemmings overall motivation to stop using cannabis is – because if he does not – he will

lose his wife. The cannabis use is not worth it - and not so important - compared to losing

his wife. Flemming knows it is the consequence, if he does not stop now. Furthermore, the

dream of having children is not realistic as long Flemming still smoke a lot of cannabis - he

says.

- Ib says, he is somehow undecided about what he hopes will happen with his

marijuana use. He knows that now when he has been fired, the lower income makes

forces him to cut down on consumption, but if he had money he would continue

smoking at the same level.

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FEMALE REASONS

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- Silke says that she would like to stop smoking cannabis because she experienced using

a lot of negative energy on it and she thinks it is a daily struggle. At the same time she

is affected psychologically by the fact that she is irritable, emotional unstable.

- Moreover, it goes against her moral

She does not want her son to find out – that he has a cannabis dependent

mother….

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OTHER ISSUES MENTIONED IN THE RECORDS?

6 Depressions3 OCD / compulsions3 ADHD3 Domestic violence2 Gambling2 Violent offender

2 Eating Disorders1 Sexual abuse in childhood1 Kleptomania1 Flasher1 Rape

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Astrid tells that she have a tendency to steal. Nothing but petty, it gives her a

satisfaction and a kick. Alternative to her petty thefts, she have a tendency

and desire for destructive acts against other persons or things related to

them.

When Jytte was about 22 years old, she began to gain a lot of weight. She

was always a chubby girl, but soon she came up to weigh 130 kg. The

husband thought it was lovely.

Bill can no longer live at home because he several times exposed himself to

his wife daughter. Bill says he never considered himself as sexual normal.