What works?
Research into illicit drug use by mental health consumers aged 18-30: Raising awareness and changing behaviour through targeted health promotion campaigns
NSW CAG is working in collaboration with the Mental Health Association NSW (MHA), the Association for the Relatives and Friends of the Mentally Ill (ARAFMI) and the University of Western Sydney to find out what health promotion campaigns work to raise awareness and change the use of cannabis amongst mental health consumers aged 18-30. Funding for this project is from the Mental Health Coordinating Council's Drug and Alcohol Research Grant program.
The research to date shows that many people living with mental illness also have a substance abuse problem. In particular, studies have found that many people with mental illness use cannabis (Green, Yong, & Kavanagh, 2005). What is not known however is why people with mental illness have a high rate of cannabis use and misuse, and why people continue to use the drug despite negative effects on mental health. This Project, therefore aims to answer the following research questions:
- What do people living with mental illness say about why they use cannabis?
- What has prompted people living with mental illness to stop using cannabis?
- What maintains cannabis use in those who do continue to use it?
In order to answer these questions, a series of focus groups will be held with young people who:
- Do not have a history of continued cannabis use
- No longer use cannabis
- Use cannabis at present and have done so over an extended period
Progress so far on this Project has seen the establishment of a steering committee and the ethical approval to conduct the research. Once the research staff have been appointed, further planning and advertising, including recruitment of people who wish to participate in the focus groups will occur.