Like many teenagers in the early 1990s, Rob was caught up in the rave culture which went hand-in-hand with drug use.

He and his friends started with cannabis and in just a few months, Rob (not his real name) was using heroin. What started out as a “hedonistic adventure” ended with him being sectioned.

Now he says the Government is “naive” when it comes to legislating on cannabis use, and wants tighter controls to stop young people from experimenting with the drug.

Last week, the Telegraph & Argus reported that 659 cannabis farms had been found in the Bradford district since April 2010, with 72 uncovered since the start of this year.

Jon Royle, chief executive of the Bridge charity, said research showed that people who use cannabis have a higher than average risk of developing schizophrenia. He warned that teenagers smoking cannabis before they turn 15 are four times more likely to develop a psychotic disorder by the time they reach the age of 26.

West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson plans to lobby the Government about updating drugs legislation to address different types of drug use.

He said when legislation was drawn up a decade ago, it was “very much Class A drugs”, but now, with the emergence of legal highs, as well as cannabis, the law needs to be reviewed.

His plan to lobby the Government is a move welcomed by Rob who lives in Bradford and claims the city has a “drugs epidemic”.

“I strongly believe the Government and law in this country regarding cannabis are very naive,” he says.

“When I was 16, back in the early 90s, I joined the rave sub-culture and like the rest of my mates got stupidly involved with the drug culture running hand-in-hand with dance music.

“We didn’t really understand the dangerous potential of recreational drug use; I started with cannabis – my drug of choice – and soon progressed to LSD, amphetamines, E, Ketamine, coke and heroin.

“After starting my hedonistic, wild adventure, around nine months later, I cracked up big time and ended up being sectioned in Lynfield Mount Hospital, and was diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic.”

Rob now has to take medication for the rest of his life and says he is “living proof” of the dangers it can cause.

“I was diagnosed more than 20 years ago and my experiences very nearly destroyed me, and my family. I am very lucky to still be alive,” he says.

“I have to take anti-psychotic medication and anti-depressants daily and will do for the rest of my life. I haven’t been able to work or even drive a car, and my day-to-day life is hard and quite distressing.”

He adds: “There is a drug epidemic in Bradford, especially with cannabis. The Government, local communities and young people should understand that ‘messing’ with drugs is so dangerous. If young people want a decent life, they should avoid drugs at all costs.”

As well as the health risks, cannabis use has a wider impact on society. Mr Royle said those involved in the cultivation of the drug are often linked to organised and violent crime.

“My experience is that these criminals are ruthless and would not hesitate to exploit vulnerable people, such as victims of human trafficking,” he said.

The Bridge is the largest charity offering drugs support in Bradford. It was set up more than 20 years and helps hundreds of people who have problems with drugs, offering professional advice, practical help, treatment and ongoing support.

The charity’s £850,000 Unity Recovery Centre was opened in Manningham in 2011, with the aim of dealing with 200 referrals in the first year. It ended up dealing with 340 cases and has put 200 people through its recovery programme.

For more about the Bridge project, ring (01274) 723863, 758094 or 715860 for the Unity Recovery Centre.