On Tuesday April 8, France 2 broadcast a documentary on cannabis use among young people. Through personal accounts, we learn that cannabis is just as dangerous as so-called hard drugs.
Meet Aurélien (29), Johanna (22) and Randy (24). What do they have in common? They all lost their youth and ruined their lives after using cannabis.
The documentary“La jeunesse en fumée” (Youth in Smoke), broadcast tonight at 10:50 pm on France 2, takes a frank look at the ravages of this so-called “soft” drug.
Through three portraits, which according to director Andre Rawlins-Gaston reflect“ the reality of young people’s experience of cannabis”, the report shows that weed is one of the major health challenges of the early 21st century.
In 2021, cannabis is ten times more potent and ten times more harmful than 20 years ago. A toxicity that is wreaking havoc.
This 70-minute program broadcast on France’s first public service channel sets out to take stock of cannabis use among young people. And the findings are downright frightening.
Aurélien started stealing at the age of 16 to feed his addiction to weed (cell phones, computers and then his family). He even went so far as to assault his mother, gagging her and tying her to a chair in a fit of madness linked to his weed consumption and the money he needed to buy his daily dose of smoke. “I ate pizzas in bed and crushed my cigarettes on the floor, I was like a heroin or crack junkie. All I wanted was to drool from my mouth and be a human wreck. “. Aurelien will go through periods of intense physical withdrawal to rid himself of his marijuana addiction. At the time of writing, the 29-year-old is living in a daytime detox center.
Johanna, 22, admits that she ended up “.to see smokers just for (her) ass and body. Before (waking up) haggard the next day, waiting to smoke a joint that will send me back to the same hell”. Who’d have thought it?
Randy, 24, has also lost everything. Unable to work, forced to undergo heavy treatment with lithium and neuroleptics because of the cannabis he still can’t get rid of, “(his) life is ruined“.
The good old fun joint is long gone!
Dr Hélène Donnadieu warns any curious onlookers who might be tempted to try a firecracker: “when you stop smoking cannabis, you’re seized by physical withdrawal: spasms and stomach pains, trembling, feverishness, violent outbursts or psychotic attacks. It’s really very difficult to get out of cannabis addiction, whatever your age(…) For heroin addiction, there’s methadone. But for cannabis, there is currently no substitution treatment. “.
Three emblematic portraits of young people’s distress over cannabis, warns the director. All the more reason to worry about the 5 million pot smokers in France, and the health crisis about to hit Canada and the USA, which have legalized and/or decriminalized the drug. Unless, that is, we should be worrying about the hold of the big pharma lobby and the French government’s dangerous stubbornness in demonizing cannabis rather than regulating its use.
Enjoy your session!
