CRAVEN'S cannabis users are being warned of the drug's increasing strength and to consider their dependency levels.

A campaign being run by alcohol and drug recovery service, North Yorkshire Horizons, which in Skipton is based at Mill Bridge House, aims to raise awareness of the drug's increasing strength, and to the issues around its heavy use.

Called #RespectTHC, the campaign also asks people to consider whether they have a dependency on cannabis, a class B controlled drug.

Mark Vidgen, assistant director at Developing Initiatives for Support in the Community (DISC) said: “We’re aiming to help people to really think about their cannabis use and challenge some of the perceptions out there”.

A study carried out this year at King's College, London, concluded that increasing numbers of people seeking treatment for cannabis may be linked to the drug's rising potency levels.

Mr Vidgen said Tetrahydrocannabinol - (THC) -the primary psychoactive component of cannabis was becoming more potent.

"That fact needs to be understood and respected by cannabis users. We want to get people to think about whether they have some level of dependence on cannabis and give them advice on how to make changes," he said.

“Cannabis is the most widely used drug and is becoming increasingly socially acceptable. At the same time nationally we are seeing higher levels of THC in cannabis these days which can be problematic”.

He added the Global Dry survey, carried out last year, suggested that almost a third of cannabis users wanted help to change their habits.

“We want people to feel comfortable in approaching North Yorkshire Horizons to get advice about their cannabis use so they can make positive changes.”

#RespectTHC posters for professionals and other services in North Yorkshire can be ordered by contacting North Yorkshire Horizons on 01723 330 730 or by emailing info@nyhorizons.org.uk.

North Yorkshire Horizons is an integrated alcohol and drug recovery service for North Yorkshire, operating from five hubs, including Skipton.

Its aim is to help as many people as possible to recover from and be free from drug and alcohol dependency, and to reduce the harm that is caused to individuals, families and communities.