Abus et dépendance au cannabis à l'adolescence

Over the past ten years, the consumption of cannabis among adolescent has dramatically increased. Today it's becoming one of the main public health problems. Two forms of cannabis are commonly smoked: the leaves and the resin. These substances have a high concentration of tetrahydroxycannabinol, the active molecule of cannabis. Resent research has permitted to understand how the cannabinoid system works: the system combines specific receptors and specific molecules, the endocannabinoids. The effects of cannabis use on human beings are well known at present. Adolescents take advantage of these effects; they use cannabis not only to have fun but also as a self-therapeutic process. Abuse and addiction are frequently caused by hard psychopathologic disorders such as vulnerability, depression… Various psychotherapeutic procedures showed efficacy in treating cannabis addiction. The “bifocal” therapy is based on a double follow-up, by two different therapists, the first one using counselling and active advice, the other focusing on psychic conflicts.