Drug dealers are preying on patients in mental health units

11:17 mental health units 0 Comments

Drug dealers are preying on patients in mental health units by pretending that they are friends and selling them cannabis, a government health chief revealed last night.
Louis Appleby, national director for mental health at the Department of Health, told The Times it was “well known” that dealers found their way into mental health units and exploited patients who were seriously ill. Some hospitals have brought in sniffer dog patrols to scare dealers off but staff say that they have no rights to stop patients and friends coming in or out, or to search anyone who may be carrying drugs.
Professor Appleby’s comments came as it was revealed that the potent “skunk” form of the drug now accounts for up to 80 per cent of cannabis sold on the street — up from 15 per cent six years ago. The latest figures were revealed yesterday at a meeting of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, a government body that is considering whether cannabis should be returned to Class B status with tougher penalties for those caught in possession.
The Government has indicated its support for reclassification, as revealed by The Times last month, amid growing concerns about the health effects of cannabis. It has been linked to an increased risk of psychotic illness and other associated mental health problems.