§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has undertaken into links between taking cannabis and schizophrenia. [149821]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Department commissioned the following research projects as part of the Drug Misuse Policy Research Initiative, which funded £2.4 million research between 2000 and 2003.
Long term heavy cannabis use patterns and problems. Mr. Niall Coggans, Strathclyde Institute for Biomedical SciencesA national epidemiological study of dually diagnosed substance misuse and psychiatric disorders between 1993–1998, using the General Practice Research Database. Dr. Martin Frischer, Keele University.Co-morbidity in the National Psychiatric Morbidity Surveys. Dr. Michael Farrell, Dr. Colin Taylor, Institute of Psychiatry.Co-morbidity of substance misuse and mental health problems a study of the prevalence and patterns of co-morbidity and the need for services amongst treatment populations. Mr. Tim Weaver, Imperial College School of Medicine.Dual Diagnosis in a Primary Care Group (PCG), (100,000 population locality) a step by step epidemiological needs assessment and design of a training and service response model. Dr. Geraldine Strathdee, Oxleas National Health Service Trust.The Department also monitors research in this area and has a range of expert advisers to inform policy.