September start for cannabis clinic

A cannabis treatment clinic will open in September at the community health centre at Woy Woy Hospital.

The success of a clinic at Parramatta has led to a similar program being instituted for the Central Coast with outpatient treatments occurring at a number of locations including Woy Woy.

Premier Mr Bob Carr announced the new program in State Parliament on March 10.

Mr Carr said the Parramatta clinic was showing "extremely encouraging results" with 85 per cent of participants abstaining from marijuana use.

Central Coast Health will advertise for staff this month.

"The Central Coast cannabis treatment clinic will target heavy cannabis users, predominantly aged 15 to 45," Mr Carr said.

"It will also offer services to parents of young cannabis users and to people with mental illnesses, whose symptoms may be exacerbated by cannabis use.

"Recognising the commuting obligations of many Central Coast residents, evening groups will be held, out-of-hours, for parents," Mr Carr said.

"They will be offered information, to help them talk to their child about cannabis and be given the skills to intervene.

"Youth health clinicians will assist in the next phase of the program, which involves counselling parents and young people together," Mr Carr said,

The program will be evaluated by the University of Newcastle's Department of Psychology.

Clinical staff interviewed and appointed during May and June, followed by a comprehensive training program in July.

The service will be introduced to doctors, mental health and youth services in August, with a full service operating from September.

Press release, Wayne Anstee, March 10