asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many people are treated each week for the psychological effects of cannabis use; and what advice is given by FRANK, the Government's drug advice service for young people, about the threat posed by cannabis use to the health of young people. [HL3007]

The information requested is not available on a weekly basis. However, the most recent data available on the numbers of people presenting for treatment in specialist substance misuse treatment services who identified cannabis as their primary problem of misuse were 21,800 in 2005-06 and 24,700 (rounded to the nearest hundred) in 2006-07.

The advice FRANK provides is detailed information about the effect of cannabis on physical and mental health and states that there is “increasing evidence of a link between cannabis and mental health and problems such as schizophrenia”.

FRANK delivers this message in a number of ways through its website, telephone helpline, by television and radio adverts and information leaflets.