|
Press
Release: September, 2007
Don't
mess with His creation!
 I
noted the result of a survey
of people convicted for dangerous
driving on the Central Coast.
Of more than 4000 convictions,
the majority of young dangerous
drivers were driving under
the influence of cannabis
– marijuana – not alcohol.
We
know that cannabis is the
drug of choice for many young
people, but those who smoke
dope are six and a half times
more likely to cause serious
traffic accidents than those
who do not. Some Christian
youth are influenced by friends
to smoke marijuana. They do
not realise that marijuana
is more dangerous than alcohol
and nicotine combined.
The
most recent research by the
University of Maastricht in
Holland, which was led by
Professor Jim van Os, of more
than 4,045 persons from 1997
to 1999 shows that people
who smoke marijuana are nearly
three times more likely to
develop a psychotic disorder,
such as hallucinations, paranoia,
manic depression or schizophrenia.
There
is an undeniable link between
cannabis use and a variety
of mental problems. Clearly,
social dysfunction problems
are being increasingly established.
Indeed, the challenge faced
by all responsible public
policy bodies—including State,
Federal and local government
and the community—is to ensure
that those most at risk of
becoming habitual or regular
users of cannabis are aware
of those risks.
From
twenty-seven years as Superintendent
of Wesley Mission over-sighting
two mental hospitals and half
a dozen counseling and drug
rehabilitation services, I
can tell you from my own experience
of speaking to patients with
severe schizophrenia and other
mental health conditions,
that by far the majority report
that they used cannabis prior
to developing their mental
condition. While people can
be rehabilitated from regularly
using cannabis, there are
no known cures for schizophrenia
and some of the other mental
health conditions.
The
Government must do more to
warn the community about the
mental health consequences
that effect so many users
of cannabis, and speak out
against the pressure groups
who push a soft approach.
And we have to be prepared
to honestly engage users about
the harm they may be doing
to themselves and certainly,
by example, to other people.
Christians
know that God has given them
a body to be the temple of
the Holy Spirit – in other
words – God has made us good
and we should not mess in
His creation by the use of
harmful drugs or by over-eating
or neglecting exercise nor
anything else that damages
His creation – you!
|
