When should parents get help straight away?

Parents should get help straight away if their child is unconscious, no longer breathing properly, has a seizure or is in a state in which they endanger themselves or others. In these cases, every minute counts, and you do not need certainty about the substance or the amount to call the emergency number 112. This guide describes the most important warning signs of a drug emergency, the first steps until the rescue services arrive, and the places to turn to for crises that are not yet an emergency.

When is it an emergency?

Not every difficult situation is an emergency. A crisis in family life, such as a heated argument or a child who withdraws, needs a conversation and support. An emergency exists when the body or the mind is acutely at risk. The mindzone.info website lists warning signs that you should know before it comes to that.

The most important warning signs

• Overheating: red, hot head, possible vomiting, very warm skin and a fast pulse. The website explicitly warns that overheating can be fatal.
• Circulation problems: pallor, sudden sweating, a barely perceptible pulse, nausea, dizziness and weakness.
• Unconsciousness: the person does not respond to being spoken to or to a firm pinch. The person still breathes.
• Seizure: tense muscles, twitching, eyes rolling upwards and a sudden fall.
• Aggression or psychosis: uncontrolled behaviour, persecutory thoughts or self-harm, especially after stimulant substances.
• Panic or “bad trip”: states of anxiety, disturbed perception, loss of orientation and rapid, shallow breathing.
• Shock: pale, cold skin, racing or weak pulse, drowsiness and restlessness.
• Respiratory or cardiac arrest: barely any movement of the chest, no airflow at the mouth and nose, bluish lips.

What you do until help arrives

Stay calm and ask other people present for help. Stay with the person and speak to them. Make sure the surroundings are calm and safe, and remove dangerous objects. If you know which substances were used, tell the rescue team on site. Leftover material can help identify the substance. Pre-existing conditions are also important, such as heart or breathing problems.

Depending on the situation, the following applies, as the mindzone website describes. With overheating, a position with the head raised, cool air and a non-alcoholic drink help, provided the person is responsive. With unconsciousness, check breathing and pulse. If both are present, place the person in the recovery position and call the rescue service. Do not give drinks to unconscious people, because there is a risk of choking. In the case of a seizure, remove dangerous objects, do not hold the person down, and place their head on a soft surface. Afterwards, place them in the recovery position. In cardiac or respiratory arrest, follow the instructions of the emergency call centre and begin resuscitation until the rescue service arrives.

These notes do not replace a first aid course. If you are unsure, follow the instructions of the emergency call centre, which will guide you on the phone.

The emergency number 112

The emergency number in Germany is 112. When you mention keywords such as respiratory arrest or unconsciousness, an ambulance with an emergency doctor comes as quickly as possible. According to mindzone, doctors and paramedics are bound by confidentiality, so you can tell them openly on site what was used. On the phone, give the location and the type of emergency.

Crises without an emergency

Sometimes there is no acute danger, but there is still a crisis. Your child threatens to run away, you fear for their future, or you no longer know how to react. A conversation with a specialist then helps. The online counselling service DigiSucht offers parents free counselling, anonymous on request, according to the platform. You can reach the Elterntelefon of Nummer gegen Kummer on 0800 111 0 550; opening times and costs are listed at nummergegenkummer.de.

For conversations about your own approach to your child, the guide How do I cope with fear when my child uses cannabis? is also available. It describes how you can handle worries without overburdening yourself.

When you should contact a counselling service

Do not wait until a crisis becomes an emergency. Contact a counselling service if you repeatedly find traces of use, if school or training suffers, if money disappears, or if your child changes over a longer period. A counselling service can help you assess the situation.

Prevention in family life

Anyone who knows the warning signs can react earlier. This includes talking openly with your child and regarding help as normal. The guide How do you recognise cannabis use in young people? shows what you can look out for.

What matters after an emergency

After an emergency, parents are often exhausted and unsettled. It is important that you do not stay alone with it. Talk to a trusted person or a counselling service about what you have experienced. Children and siblings also need an explanation that suits their age. Do not hide that something has happened. Still, avoid details that trigger fear.

After a hospital stay, it is worth seeking a conversation with the treating service. Ask about follow-up offers, such as counselling or outpatient support. The guide When is an addiction clinic sensible for cannabis use? describes when such steps may be considered.

Why you should discuss the emergency in advance

In an emergency, nobody deliberates at length. It therefore helps to agree in advance who in the household calls the emergency number, where the telephone numbers are kept and who informs the family. Write the number 112 down where it is clearly visible, and keep the telephone numbers of the counselling services you want to contact ready. This small preparation takes pressure out of a situation in which you have to function regardless.

An emergency plan can also note which person nearby supports you if you are yourself upset. This also belongs to precautionary planning.

What you can do now

1. Save 112 as the emergency number and agree with your child and your family who does what in an emergency.
2. Learn the recovery position and the warning signs from this guide.
3. Note who can help you in a crisis, including people outside the family.
4. Get professional support for conversations outside an emergency through the Elterntelefon or a counselling service.
5. In any acute danger, call 112 at once and do not wait.