How do schools and youth welfare work together on cannabis?

Schools and youth welfare work together best on cannabis when both know their roles and talk to each other early. The school sees changes in lessons and in the daily life of the class. Youth welfare can support families and arrange further help. Anyone with a shared plan reaches young people sooner, before a suspicion turns into a serious problem. This applies in particular because young people are under specific protection in the Consumer Cannabis Act (KCanG).

What the law sets out for young people

The Consumer Cannabis Act sets clear limits for minors. Consumption of cannabis in the immediate presence of persons under 18 is banned (section 5(1) KCanG). Public consumption in schools and within sight of them is also banned (section 5(2) no. 1 KCanG). Anyone who gives or passes on cannabis to a child or young person commits a criminal offence. The basic offence provides for imprisonment of up to three years or a fine (section 34(1) KCanG). If a person over 21 passes cannabis on to a child or young person, this usually counts as a particularly serious case, with a penalty range of three months to five years' imprisonment (section 34(3) KCanG). An overview is given in the article What does the KCanG say on youth protection?.

Clarify roles before anything happens

Cooperation only works in an emergency if responsibilities are fixed in advance. Responsibility for rules and reporting routes often lies with the school management. Teaching staff observe and document, and pass concerns on to the right place. Youth welfare services, that is usually the Jugendamt and independent providers, advise families and arrange further help. If you record these roles in writing early, you know straight away whom to call when an incident occurs. The article How does a school proceed after an incident? shows how an incident is processed step by step.

Contact persons in school life

Several bodies in school life can help with questions about cannabis. Each has its place in the cooperation.

• School social work accompanies pupils in their daily lives and can hold conversations.
• Counselling teachers are often the first point of contact for pupils and their parents.
• The Jugendamt advises families and organises further help.
• Addiction counselling services place questions of use in a professional context.

The best way to clarify which body is responsible at your school is to discuss it in the teaching staff. A short action plan with names and telephone numbers helps when things have to move quickly.

Passing on information factually

Information for youth welfare should be factual. Write down what you have observed: date, behaviour and concrete concerns. Avoid assumptions about background or quantity. The school management should clarify in advance with the school's data protection officer what may be passed on. This step protects the young person and the family's trust, which is important for help.

Involving parents early

Parents should be involved early. The school informs them factually about its observations and refers them to counselling. Youth welfare can hold conversations with the family if the suspicion is confirmed. It is important that school and youth welfare speak with one voice. Contradictory messages unsettle parents and young people. A joint conversation with all those involved is therefore often the best first step.

Two things should be avoided: voicing suspicions in front of classmates or other parents, and leaving the case to a single person.

Prevention in cooperation

School and youth welfare can plan prevention work together. According to cannabispraevention.de, the risks of cannabis for young people are particularly high. The Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG) points out that the young brain is in an important stage of development and that consumption can affect this stage. In the worst case, a school or vocational qualification is at risk because memory works much worse. In conversations with pupils and parents, such statements should be presented soberly and with their source.

Where you can get help

For specialists and families, the Sucht und Drogen Hotline on 01806 313031 is a first point of contact for questions about addiction and drugs. The hotline's website offers further guidance. The topic area Prevention and youth protection contains articles for parents, teachers and specialists. If you are unsure what the next step looks like, first seek a conversation in the team and then specialist advice.