What does DigiSucht offer for cannabis problems?

DigiSucht is the digital addiction counselling service through which you can discuss problems with cannabis online. According to the platform, the service is free of charge and anonymous. You register, are assigned to a counselling service and then choose how you want to make contact.

Which counselling routes there are

Counselling runs through several routes, which you can combine. Options include messages that are answered with a delay, text or video chats by appointment, and counselling on site and by phone. According to the platform, written contact has no waiting time. You should get a reply within a few working days, according to the platform. If no appointment is free at the moment, you can simply write.

A first message gives you time to sort out your questions. Whether you later want an appointment on site is a decision you make afterwards.

Process from registration to conversation

Registration is brief. Among other things, the platform asks for your postcode, so that you can be assigned to a suitable counselling service. After that, you write a first message or book an appointment. The platform is only available in German. Depending on the counselling service, other languages are possible.

There is a gap in regional assignment: for postcodes from Saarland and Schleswig-Holstein, often no counselling service is listed. If you come from one of these regions, look for counselling on site early, for example via the search for addiction counselling services for cannabis.

Data protection and confidentiality

According to the platform, messages are end-to-end encrypted, and this also applies to video calls. Counselling is anonymous on request, and content is treated confidentially. You can delete your account yourself. Final deletion takes place within 48 hours and cannot then be undone.

You decide for yourself what you tell. More on this is in the article How safe is my data in online counselling?

Where the service reaches its limits

Online counselling does not replace a medical examination. For physical complaints after use, or with medication you take in addition, the question belongs with a doctor's practice. For urgent concerns, the platform recommends contacting the counselling service directly. If no suitable service is found, the platform names the Sucht & Drogen Hotline on 01806 313031.

Video counselling has its own technical notes. For these, read the article Is video counselling available for addiction problems?

When counselling makes sense

According to BIÖG, roughly one in eight people who use cannabis becomes dependent, and the risk rises with use once or several times a week. Anyone who notices that use is gaining importance and pushing other things aside does not have to wait until it becomes a crisis. A conversation is also possible if you are just unsure.

What digital counselling can do

Digital counselling suits people who shy away from an appointment on site, because they feel ashamed, because the journey is too far or because they first want only to write. Written contact gives you time to phrase a question calmly. The reply comes from the counsellor at the assigned service. It does not replace every form of help. It does, however, offer a low-threshold way in.

What to note down before the first message

• When you started using cannabis and how often.
• In which situations you use, for example in the evening, before work or alone.
• Which consequences you notice in everyday life, for example with sleep, at school or at work.
• Which question you most want answered.

Such a list makes the first conversation shorter and more concrete. You do not have to write everything down if that is too much for you.

Terms: anonymity and confidentiality

In this context, anonymous means that you do not have to give a real name. A username can be chosen freely. Anonymity and confidentiality concern two levels. Confidentiality means that the counsellor does not pass on content. How far this duty reaches is explained in the article Does the conversation in addiction counselling stay confidential?

When the process stalls

Sometimes replies come more slowly than expected, or an appointment falls through. That is frustrating, but it says nothing about your concern. Write a short follow-up and ask for feedback on the next step. A good service tells you how things will continue, and adjusts the route if it does not suit you.

Prevention and warning signs

According to drugcom, a psychological dependence can develop with ongoing use, and according to compelling evidence, early onset leads to lasting impairments of cognitive performance. Warning signs include negative consequences of use in everyday life and the impression of no longer having use under control. If you notice this in yourself, you can talk about it in counselling.

On-site appointment or online counselling

Not everyone copes with written contact. If you prefer a conversation, you can switch to video chat or telephone after a first exchange. Depending on the counselling service, the platform shows which routes are open to you. The person seeking help makes the final decision. A change is an adjustment to your situation, nothing more.

If you are unsure whether the contact suits you, begin with a short first message. Write in your own words and without technical terms, because the counsellor will ask follow-up questions. After that, you decide how to proceed.

What you can do next

• Create an account and choose a username that does not identify you.
• Write down your concern in your own words beforehand. This makes getting started easier.
• Book an appointment for a video call or a phone call if writing is not enough for you.
• Compare the routes with the article Online counselling or counselling on site: what fits?