What role does school social work play in cannabis cases?

School social work is one of the first points of contact when cannabis becomes an issue at a school. It counsels students, supports teachers in difficult conversations and refers people on to addiction counselling or youth welfare services. Its role sits between school, family and support services: it clarifies the situation, listens and makes sure that no one is left alone with a problem.

What school social work does in cannabis cases

School social work works with individual young people and with groups. In cannabis cases, the work usually involves three tasks: holding an open conversation, assessing the risk and paving the way to suitable help. Anyone who comes to a specialist should not feel interrogated. The conversation clarifies what is really going on: how often consumption happens, in what amounts, how school is going and who is in the circle of friends.

The work is based on prevention and counselling. The article Which BZgA material is suitable for lessons? shows which material suits lessons and where the differences lie. School social work can use such materials to inform classes or to prepare individual conversations.

How a first conversation works

A good first conversation begins with a simple question: what has happened, and what do you want? The specialist explains what they can do and what they cannot do. This also includes when they will speak with other people.

A brief assessment follows. The cannabis check from drugcom is helpful here. It asks about consumption over the past twelve months and whether one had the impression of no longer controlling consumption. The result does not replace a conversation. It does, however, give a reason to talk about consumption, its consequences and plans.

Why school social work pays attention to health and learning

The young brain is in an important phase of development, as the BIÖG explains on its page on the dangers for young people. In the worst case, the school or vocational qualification is at risk because memory works far worse. Frequent cannabis use also disrupts concentration, which can lead to problems at school and in training too.

A specialist should know these connections without overrating them. A conversation about learning difficulties can be a way into a conversation about consumption.

Where the limits lie

School social work counsels and refers on. It replaces neither addiction counselling nor medical treatment. Specialists in counselling or treatment assess whether dependence exists. As a rough guide, drugcom gives a rule: dependence exists when at least two criteria apply within 12 months.

Drugcom also says what it considers on amounts. According to it, neither quantity nor frequency is decisive for the question of dependence. What counts are negative consequences. In this assessment, problematic consumption usually begins earlier than dependence. It is therefore worth watching for changes early, even when no diagnosis is in view.

Legal questions about individual cases belong with a lawyer specialising in the area. Courts decide in individual cases. School social work can help explain whom a family can turn to.

Working with teachers and parents

Teachers often notice changes first. The page for teachers on cannabispraevention.de recommends speaking with young people objectively and in a differentiated way. At the same time, it warns against playing consumption down, because young people tend to downplay cannabis. Teachers should also expect follow-up questions, including questions about their own consumption, and think through their attitude beforehand.

Involving parents is part of the work. The same page explains in which situations parents should be contacted. How this can look in practice is shown in the article How does the school involve parents in cannabis prevention? School social work can prepare and accompany such conversations, so that school and family speak the same language.

The article How do schools and youth welfare services cooperate on cannabis? covers coordination between school and youth welfare. It deals with firm arrangements that prevent young people from falling between responsibilities.

Common misunderstandings

A common saying goes: cannabis is legal, so it is harmless. Health specialists see it differently. According to the BIÖG, the risks for young people are particularly high, and for minors, possession, acquisition and cultivation of cannabis remain prohibited. School social work can explain this difference without threatening.

A second misunderstanding concerns fear. The BIÖG names fear and panic feelings as short-term risks of consumption. Anyone who talks about this should be taken seriously, and the specialist can clarify whether medical help is needed.

Contact points for school and family

Anyone who needs help has several routes:

• The Sucht und Drogen Hotline on 01806 313031 advises on addiction and drugs. Opening hours are listed on the organisation’s website.
• The parents’ phone line of the Nummer gegen Kummer on 0800 111 0 550 helps parents who are worried.
• The drugcom chat accepts anonymous questions about cannabis. According to the BIÖG, it is staffed Monday to Friday from 15:00 to 17:00, except on public holidays.
• The BIÖG information phone gives anonymous advice on 0221 89 20 31: Monday to Thursday from 10:00 to 22:00, and Friday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.
• The DHS (Deutsche Hauptstelle für Suchtfragen) addiction help directory shows counselling services, filterable by federal state, postcode, town and radius.

What school social work does not take on

School social work is neither therapy nor a medical service. It makes no diagnosis and does not assess dependence in the medical sense. These tasks belong to addiction counselling services, doctors and specialist agencies. Anyone who knows this expects a clear next step in the first conversation, not a finished solution.

School social work and school management also discuss school measures together. School social work brings in the young person’s perspective, and school management decides on the procedure at the school. This keeps the role clear and the responsibility divided.

Why staying on course matters

Staying on course is part of the work of school social work. A follow-up appointment after a few weeks shows whether something has moved and whether the help that was arranged has arrived.

What you can do concretely

If you are a teacher, a student or a parent with a concern at school, speak to school social work first. Ask who is responsible at your school and which fixed arrangements exist. Prepare the conversation: what have you observed, what do you wish for, and which help do you already know of?

If there is an acute danger, get help immediately. In an emergency, dial the emergency number without waiting for the next appointment. For all other cases the principle is: speak early, describe concretely and consider the next point of contact straight away.