Stress Main Reason People Use Drugs, Workshop Hears

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Stress caused people to turn to drugs in an attempt to escape reality, a workshop on Cannabis and Substance Abuse in the Workplace was told.

The workshop - for medical practitioners, occupational health and safety specialists, directors and managers - was organised by UKZN’s College of Health Sciences in partnership with MicroMega Publications.

‘Stress seems to be the main reason people turn to cannabis and other substances,’ said psychologist Ms Lucinda Burns, who addressed the forum. ‘It is therefore important for people to take time out to focus on themselves, especially with the increase in occupational burnout in the workplace.’

UKZN Pharmaceutical Scientist, Dr Sooraj Baijnath told delegates about the effects of cannabis on the nervous system, highlighting that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) was the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects.

Baijnath said over the years, the potency levels of THC had increased with some routes of exposure having extremely high potency levels, the highest being water pipes that contain 90% THC.

UKZN’s Head of Occupational and Environmental Health, Professor Rajen Naidoo, delivered a presentation on the biomedical perspective of cannabis in the human body. ‘The acute effects of cannabis usage are easy to notice and include bloodshot eyes, increased heart rate, bronchitis, sinus infections, a sore throat and an irritation of the airway. Long-term effects include addiction, altered brain development, poor educational outcome and cognitive impairment.’

Naidoo stressed that there was limited scientific evidence on the health benefits of cannabis.

According to scientifically validated evidence from the US National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, cannabis is beneficial for chronic pain in adults, reduces nausea and vomiting in patients receiving chemotherapy and has been reported to lessen multiple sclerosis spasticity symptoms.

With the decriminalisation of cannabis usage in South Africa, the industry was growing - hence, the challenge for Occupational Health and Safety professionals on how to manage workers at risk of contracting respiratory disorders and skin conditions. ‘It is clear that industry policies need to be developed to safeguard these workers,’ said Naidoo.

UKZN’s Occupational Medicine Registrar, Dr Calvin Yagan, said cannabis could be detected in the body for up to six months. ‘There are various drug tests to determine this using samples of urine, hair, saliva and blood,’ said Yagan. ‘Cannabis can also collect in the adipose tissue where it will remain for up to six months and can be detected.’

CEO of AlcoSafe, Mr Rhys Evans stressed that to manage substance abuse in the workplace it was necessary to have a clear policy. ‘A policy is essential and the development of it should include union representatives. Reputable suppliers of drug testing equipment who will assist in the policy development, training and procedures should be used,’ said Evans.

‘A consent form is essential prior to conducting a drug test. However, a refusal to give consent can be seen as an admission of guilt.

‘Your policy is your rule book - it is essential to how you manage substance abuse in the workplace,’ he said.

•  The primary focus of Micromega Publications is the supply of occupational health and safety information in the form of books, booklets and posters to organisations across South Africa. The company also publishes and promotes the work of local writers and hosts the monthly Durban Book Fair at Mitchell Park, partnering with the Denis Hurley Centre for the Booksellers of Mzansi Project. This project empowers homeless people to earn a dignified living through book selling.

Words: MaryAnn Francis

Photograph: Supplied