Cannabis linked to 16% of mental health admissions at Oberlands Centre
- 18% of admissions to the Oberlands Centre in 2025 were linked to cannabis use, FoI request reveals
- This represents an increase from 16% in 2024
- The Princess Elizabeth Hospital cannot identify cannabis-related admissions due to its clinical coding system
- Emergency department drug-related attendances do not specify the substance involved
- The Oberlands Centre separately records mental health diagnoses and reasons for admission
Nearly one in five admissions to Guernsey's mental health facility in 2025 were linked to cannabis use, according to figures released by Health and Social Care.
Data from the Oberlands Centre shows that 18% of admissions this year were recorded as being linked to or caused by cannabis use, up from 16% in 2024.
The figures were disclosed in response to a freedom of information request seeking hospitalisation data related to cannabis use at both the Oberlands Centre and the Princess Elizabeth Hospital.
However, the committee said it does not record or have extractable data identifying hospital admissions to the PEH for physical health reasons specifically related to cannabis use.
Emergency department attendances at the PEH are recorded by presenting condition or diagnosis, but where an attendance is recorded as "drug related", the clinical coding does not identify the specific substance involved. As a result, cannabis-related attendances or admissions cannot be specifically identified.
Admissions to the Oberlands Centre do not utilise the same clinical coding system as the PEH. However, the mental health facility does separately record mental health diagnoses and reasons for admission, enabling it to provide the cannabis-related figures.
The freedom of information request was received on 13th January 2026, with the response provided on 24th April 2026.
Q&A
Q: What percentage of Oberlands Centre admissions were linked to cannabis in 2025?
A: 18% of admissions to the Oberlands Centre in 2025 were recorded as being linked to or caused by cannabis use, compared to 16% in 2024.
Q: Can the Princess Elizabeth Hospital identify cannabis-related admissions?
A: No. The PEH does not record or have extractable data identifying hospital admissions for physical health reasons specifically related to cannabis use. Where emergency department attendances are recorded as drug-related, the clinical coding does not identify the specific substance involved.
Q: Why can the Oberlands Centre provide cannabis-related figures when the PEH cannot?
A: The Oberlands Centre does not use the same clinical coding system as the PEH. It separately records mental health diagnoses and reasons for admission, which enables it to identify cannabis-linked cases.
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