NYC urges marijuana users to quit

NEW YORK, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- New York health officials are letting heavy users of marijuana know that help in quitting or cutting down is available through the city's new health bulletin.

The New York City health department released the health bulletin "Marijuana: Is it holding you back?," which advises that counseling and self-help organizations can help people quit or cut down.

The brochure urges users to "talk to your doctor or a substance abuse counselor" and recommends being "honest about how much marijuana you use, how often you use and the problems your drug use is causing."

The brochure says: "A strong urge to use marijuana can be hard to resist and stopping or cutting down is hard, even when using causes money or legal problems or interferes with work, school, or relationships."

The brochure points out that heavy marijuana use can cause loss of energy or motivation. Heavy users may have "a hard time meeting responsibilities or getting things done, waking up in the morning; getting to work or school on time; finishing projects and completing plans, the brochure says.

Heavy users also may suffer depression -- "feeling sad, irritable or hopeless much of the time, especially when you can't use" or memory problems -- "forgetting all or part of what happens when you use, or having trouble paying attention, staying focused or learning new information."

Copies of all the health bulletins are available online at nyc.gov/health.