Cannabis to substitute crack in Bogotá

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Cannabis to substitute crack in Bogotá

22 April 2013

The mayor of Bogota has recently proposed a pilot scheme with crack cocaine addicts to explore the substitution of crack made of cocaine base paste (or bazuco as it is called in Colombia) by marijuana. The substitution treatment plan will include 15 problematic users from the marginalized Bronx area who are already receiving health assistance of the CAMADoperating in that sector of the city. The treatment will last approximately eight months, after which the results will be evaluated.

Treatment options for crack-dependent users are limited, and a substantial proportion of the dependent population is not reached by the treatment system. Some Colombian toxicologists argue that there is no scientific evidence showing the benefits of marijuana to reduce crack cocaine addiction. That is not true. On the contrary, a few serious studies do indicate that the use of marijuana may serve as a substitute for crack. For example, a study published in 1999 in Brazil: Therapeutic use of Cannabis by Crack Addicts in Brazil. Throughout a period of nine months, the researchers followed 25 male patients in São Paulo aged 16 to 28 who were strongly addicted to crack. Most of them (68%, or 17 individuals) ceased to use crack and reported that the use of cannabis had reduced their craving symptoms, and produced subjective and concrete changes in their behaviour, helping them to overcome crack addiction.

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