Brief Communications and Clinical Notes

This paper is not a research document, a formal case history nor a complete review of a 'series' of cases but presents a clinical observation based on experience with a small number of university students who have been extensively involved with the use of cannabis (marijuana and hashish). Five male university students, ranging in age from eighteen to twenty-two, who consulted the Counselling Division of the Strident Health Service, had striking similarities in their history of drug use and clinical features. Four of the five had been extensively involved with the use of marijuana and hashish, on an average of twice a week for one to two years and had considerably lesser involvement with the more potent hallucinating agents such as LSD. The fifth had been involved with cannabis only and for a much shorter period, having been almost continuously 'stoned' for a single interval of several days. All five presented with apathy or lack of initiative and each contrasted this lack of 'drive' with his usual initiative before the use of these drugs. One student was described as demonstrating listlessness, lack of drive or motivation, absence of any enthusiasm regarding career planning or even day-to-day functioning. Another contrasted his present apathy with previously being known as the 'life of the party'. All five students noted the change in this drive and initiative to have occurred during their use of hallucinogenic drugs.