Inuvik (Apr 15/05) - It's important to control marijuana use if you want to control suicide, according to an Inuvik psychiatrist who feels it is crucial that Inuvik's crisis line continue to operate.

It's been well established that the NWT has the highest rate of suicide in the country.

High rates of marijuana use put Northerners at a greater risk for suicidal tendencies, according to an Inuvik doctor. - Chris Hunsley/NNSL photo

The high rate of marijuana use, particularly among aboriginals, puts Northerners at even greater risk, said Dr. Ranjith Perera of the Inuvik Family Counselling Centre, an expert on schizophrenia.

"Long term marijuana use can cause schizophrenia, a psychotic illness," Perera, explaining that schizophrenics are at a higher risk of developing suicidal behaviour.

"There's definitely a link between marijuana use and schizophrenia and there's definitely a link between schizophrenia and suicide. So indirectly, all three are related," he continued.

According to the doctor, marijuana use is more prevalent among aboriginals, ultimately placing them at greater risk to attempt suicide.

"Generally the people here think that nothing happens when smoking marijuana, but that's not true," he said.

Perera first began to study the subject seven months ago after reading a 25-year New Zealand study, published in the journal Addiction, which concluded that cannabis use may increase the likelihood of someone suffering psychosis by causing chemical changes to the brain.

Since then he has interviewed aboriginals with a lengthy history of marijuana use to help shed more light on the topic.

He will present his findings at the Edmonton Schizophrenia Conference in September.

"We must keep that line running, otherwise there is no crisis intervention in Inuvik," he said.

"Social services don't exist after hours."