The number of Australians seeking treatment for cannabis problems has increased 30 percent since 2002, according to a study by the University of New South Wales Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC).

A study published online in the journal Addiction found that while the number of Australians using cannabis has decreased, the rate of harmful use, including daily use has increased significantly since 1995, especially 30 to 49 years of youth, when presentations in hospitals has doubled.

“There is good evidence that daily or almost daily by adults can lead to the development of cannabis dependence, and regular use is also associated with an increased risk of psychosis,” said study lead author Amanda Roxburgh.

The figures also show problems among young people daily users (ages 14-19) who were much more likely than older users to smoke 10 or more cones or joints a day. Among younger users per day, 63 percent reported difficulty controlling their use.

“The sooner a person begins to use cannabis are more likely to develop problems and dependence later, she said.

New research shows having children increases the chances of a woman with type 2 diabetes, but breastfeeding can reduce the risk to the same level as women who never had children.

The study, published in the American Diabetes Association’s journal Diabetes Care, compared with women with similar weight and examined the effect on type 2 diabetes have had children and had breastfed. Data were drawn from Australia’s largest study of healthy aging – 45 years – and the study was co-written by Professor Emily Banks, the National Center for Epidemiology and Population Health at the National University of Australia.

Study author Dr. Bette Liu said, women who are not breastfed were 50% more likely to develop diabetes later in life compared with women who had no children.

“But women who had children, and within each child at least three months had no increased risk of developing diabetes,” says Dr. Liu.

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It is estimated that 692,000 Australians are diagnosed with osteoporosis and a new clinical guideline published by the Royal College of General Practitioners in Australia will help in the diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management of osteoporosis in the elderly, Minister Justine Elliot said aging. The new guideline has been published to mark the National Week of musculoskeletal disorders.

Clinical guidelines developed by the Royal College of General Practitioners in Australia (RACGP) with support from the Rudd Government and approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council, provides a comprehensive review of the management of osteoporosis on the basis of the best data.

Minister Elliot said: “The guide is designed to help physicians and other primary care professionals in the management and diagnosis of patients with osteoporosis.

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